>My tub-o-lard is over 12 pounds now and barely clearing the
>counters. Does anyone know....is she overweight? What is a
>healthy weight for a feline (female)?
Healthy weight depends on the cat's size. I have a bobtail tortie who was 8# when I adopted her, and now weighs 10#. She'd be better at 8 or 9, but she won't listen to me and eat the diet food. My cat Simon is 14# (but I thought he'd be more because he's a fattycake). He'd be better at 12. My cat Mandy is between 6 and 7 pounds, and she's underweight (can you believe it?). Though she did gain weight since I adopted her. Then, I could feel several of her vertebrae and her hip bones when I petted her. I'd like to see an extra pound on her (and the others can spare them).
A good weight for a cat is around 8-12 pounds, IMO (8# for small cats, 12 pounds for larger cats). Though there are larger cats who weigh more (14-16#) and aren't overweight because of their size. I once had a cat, Frisco, who weighed 16#, but he was a big cat: long body and legs, and it fit him well.
If you cat goes "out" in the middle, s/he is overweight. If there is a pooch under the belly, s/he may be overweight. But overweight cats can be healthy (Simon is a load, but he's the healthiest of my bunch).
Check with your vet if you are concerned.