Leopards, cheetahs, Egyptian maus — a variety of cats have stunning spots. Others, like tigers, have stripes; still others, like lions, lack patterns on their coats. But how do cats get their spots, ...

These Taqpep mutations give rise to the patterns of the classic tabby cat, Leslie Lyons, a cat geneticist at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, told Live Science.

Who needs an alarm clock when you have a tabby like this one around? The cat is a chatty girl. So much so that her mom doesn't even need to set her phone to get up in the morning. Nope.

If you have to think about it, the answer is probably no. Take it from one cat mom, who had to give her tabby a stern talking-to after the cat snuck out in the pursuit of a chicken nugget.

And this is the year to do it with your pets! A pet owner online learned the magic of taking her tabby cat on a Christmas adventure to see holiday lights. And it might just inspire others to try ...