Processing:
Orton effect -- sharpen image, duplicate layer and set to screen then combine with original. Duplicate that combined layer, set to multiply and apply gaussian blur; adjust opacity to taste.
Desat of some sort except for eyes :-)
Dodge and burn
Great image to work with and a very cool final product. I like them both - the before and after. And with a cat that gives you looks like these why not keeping taking more pics of him. ;)
I am not part of this side challenge but I just had to chime in.
I love this photo - your editing is amazing. Those eyes just reach out to you from the photo and grab hold of your heart.
Beautiful, beautiful photo.