Yeah I guess It isn't low rez at this point. I am working from a technique I read in the Maya Hyper Realistic Creature Creation Book, where all the refinement comes from adding edge loops. In this technique you just refine with more edge loops and never smooth or subdivide the surface. This way you never have anything you don't want. I might have it drive a sub-D cage after I rig it.

Your lion looks great, especially for how few poly's you have. If you get the proportins right everything else seems easy. It's interesting how the lion and tiger head differ. Especially in the ears. The lion ears are almost more like a deer's or cow, than a cat.