Could the image of the cat have been dodged in the darkroom?

[This is a scan of the camera negative, so no. - Dave]

That feline's tail hook says let's be friends, and it's obviously meowing, which incidentally cats do only to humans, not to other cats. It's not like I'm an expert or anything but for the last eighteen months -- after being a lifelong confirmed dog lover, which I still am -- I have been a cat owner (I have a dog too). How that all came about is a long story and I won't tell it here, but I challenge any lifelong cat lover to be more besotted about their domesticated feline unit than I am about mine. She's never seen snow but my Tuxie, Sweetness, is the cat's meow.

After disappointing previous attempt -- shooting the cat in coal cellar at midnight -- the photographer figured he'd try outside.

Technically perfect. I write as a (amateur) photographer: it's really extremely difficult to make the well exposed photo when the contrasts are extreme. Great job! In addition I'm the cats lover