I Think I Forgot To Bake My Eggshells

Tobermory

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
9,137
Purraise
25,932
Location
Pacific NW
I use eggshells in my homemade batches, but I have this sinking feeling that I forgot to bake the last batch of eggshells before I ground them. I typically rinse the eggshells well and then set them in the sun to dry a bit while I finish making whatever it is I’ve used eggs for. Then I put the shells in a ziplock in the fridge until I get enough to bake and grind. I think I forgot to bake them this time before I ground them. But I’ve put them in nine pounds of food. :argh:

Opinions on whether I need to dump the nine pounds—and probably more since I’m not entirely sure which batches have the possibly unbaked shells? :sniffle:
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,931
Location
Colorado US
I have read that the sun is a very good means of killing bacteria. I don't know, can you try a small amount and see if there's any issues of vomit or diahrrea?
 

Totsy

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Aug 21, 2018
Messages
112
Purraise
97
Location
Monterey CA
Why do we bake the eggshells anyway? I'm sure you used high quality eggs and rinsed them well. I would follow Furballsmom's advice and try a meal or two. I wouldn't dump it just yet.

When I used eggshell powder for my own use (a short-lived experiment), I didn't know I should bake the shells. I didn't get sick.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

Tobermory

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
9,137
Purraise
25,932
Location
Pacific NW
Thanks for your thoughts, Furballsmom Furballsmom and T Totsy ! I’ll try it and watch the girls closely. I guess we bake the shells because of bacteria, inside and outside the shell. I was baking them because the instructions on feline-nutrition.org said to! And I’ll continue to in the future—and I won’t forget again. :rolleyes:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #8

Tobermory

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
9,137
Purraise
25,932
Location
Pacific NW
I'm not sure yet! I think yesterday was the first time I'd fed one of the new batches. I know which chicken batches have the unbaked eggshell, and that's what I fed yesterday. But I don't know which turkey batches are which. I might already have fed one of the new turkeys but I don't think so.

Mocha did have a bit of a loose stool this morning, but that happens from time to time. And Lily is acting like she doesn't feel good, but she's very arthritic so that could just be discomfort from her arthritis. Frustrating!
I'll be keeping an eye on them. Thanks for checking on us! :heartshape:
 

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Jan 9, 2018
Messages
39,271
Purraise
53,931
Location
Colorado US
It's frustrating when there are other "variables" in the picture! Hang in there!
 

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
I didn't realize I had to/should have baked the egg shells. I have always dried them in the back seat of my car, which gets quite warm. My cats have no issue with this.
 

MoonstoneWolf

Cat Food Bowl Referee
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
4,590
Purraise
4,140
Location
St. Louis MO
I'm new to this. Do you put the baked eggshells in the cat food? I know they're good for humans too. Sorry if question is silly.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

Tobermory

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
9,137
Purraise
25,932
Location
Pacific NW
I'm new to this. Do you put the baked eggshells in the cat food? I know they're good for humans too. Sorry if question is silly.
There are no silly questions when it comes to making food to feed our kits! I use ground eggshells to provide the calcium needed in their homemade food. When I first started to feed homemade food, I was grinding bone with the meat (following the recipe at catinfo.org). But two of my three cats are seniors and they were having trouble with constipation. So I began to use bone meal (also discussed in the recipe section of catinfo.org).

Then I began to worry about things I’d read about bone meal. So I switched to providing my own calcium by using eggshells. Here’s a good article at feline-nutrition.org about calcium supplements in homemade cat food: https://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/the-importance-of-calcium-supplements-in-homemade-cat-food

Ask if you have more questions!
 

MoonstoneWolf

Cat Food Bowl Referee
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 15, 2019
Messages
4,590
Purraise
4,140
Location
St. Louis MO
There are no silly questions when it comes to making food to feed our kits! I use ground eggshells to provide the calcium needed in their homemade food. When I first started to feed homemade food, I was grinding bone with the meat (following the recipe at catinfo.org). But two of my three cats are seniors and they were having trouble with constipation. So I began to use bone meal (also discussed in the recipe section of catinfo.org).

Then I began to worry about things I’d read about bone meal. So I switched to providing my own calcium by using eggshells. Here’s a good article at feline-nutrition.org about calcium supplements in homemade cat food: https://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/the-importance-of-calcium-supplements-in-homemade-cat-food

Ask if you have more questions!

Thank you. Are any eggs good? Or do they have to be organic? Going to read the article now.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

Tobermory

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”
Thread starter
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Dec 13, 2017
Messages
9,137
Purraise
25,932
Location
Pacific NW
Organic eggs may be preferable, but I use the store brand eggs at my grocery store. I seem to go through a lot of eggs for baking for us humans and making cat food for the girls so they don’t hang around long!
 
Top