you right,but y reduce the light to add more dramatic contrast,but in the capture light are hard in her back
this is the original,just convert from raw to jpg add signature and convert to srgb,its a little over exposed maybe 0,5.I calibrated my iMac whit spider 3 elite,maybe this help.
Better yet, how about getting your camera out again and encouraging the cat to face the light? No amount of post-processing is going to make this a well lit photo; you need to re-shoot it.