I added the furry texture by painting in between the spots and slightly overlapping the strokes and the spots. Were the cat larger I would have brushed the spots and spaces back and forth more thoroughly but it didn't really need it here. Highlights were Yellow Ochre and white for the golden areas and Parchment and Titanium White for the underbelly area. Shadows were deepened with Hookers Green Deep.
basically you try not to make a hard outline of the subject and the deeper things are in the background the more "air" they have around them. this is to make the subject fit into the illo more if iam correctly understanding it.
iam always trying new things out and learning things as i go.