Why two tails matter for a 6-pound cat
At your cat's size, two whole seasoned tails deliver a concerning dose of garlic and onion powders from the Cajun rub. While not immediately life-threatening, this amount could cause oxidative damage to red blood cells over the next 72 hours. The first signs—lethargy and pale gums—often appear delayed, so don't assume safety if day one seems normal.
Cats lack liver enzymes to process allium compounds efficiently. What would mildly upset a dog's stomach could make your lightweight feline anemic. The crawfish meat itself is irrelevant here; it's the spice crust that poses the risk.
The difference between vomiting and true toxicity
Expect some stomach upset like drooling or a single vomit episode as their body rejects the spices. This is normal and not an emergency unless it persists beyond 8 hours. True toxicity symptoms—like panting, orange-tinged urine, or collapse—would stem from garlic's compounds, not the shellfish.
If your cat only licked the seasoning off the tails rather than chewing them whole, the risk drops significantly. Check their mouth for leftover spice granules that could irritate their gums if they didn't swallow everything.
Why the other cat's avoidance is telling
Cats typically reject heavily spiced foods instinctively—the one who abstained likely detected the garlic or pepper first. The eater may have a less discerning palate or was enticed by fishy aroma overriding the spice warning. This doesn't indicate illness in the abstainer, just smarter food choices.
Separate their litter boxes temporarily to monitor which cat passes abnormal stools. Shared boxes could mask which feline has diarrhea if both use the same one, though only the crawfish-eater is at risk.
Emergency red flags vs. wait-and-see signs
Rush to the vet if your cat's gums turn yellowish or they breathe rapidly while resting—these suggest advanced hemolytic anemia. But if they're just sleeping more than usual or turn up their nose at dinner tonight, simply offer plain water and track their hydration.
For the next three days, check the whites of their eyes for yellowing when natural light hits them. Normal playfulness returning within 24 hours means they've processed the spices without lasting harm. Any decline after that initial recovery period demands blood tests.
The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Crawfish food facts page.