Why are cats spotted and tabby?
The amazing color of cats is associated with genetic mutations.
Leopards, cheetahs, Egyptian mice – a variety of felines have stunning spots. So, tigers have stripes, but lions do not have patterns on their fur. Live Science learned from experts how exactly cats get their coloring.
Scientists don't have a complete answer to this question, but they have found many clues.
“We don't know why some cats have spots and some cats have stripes,” said Dr. Greg Barsh, professor emeritus of genetics and pediatrics at Stanford University. In doing so, he said, researchers have identified two genes that affect the size and shape of spots and stripes in domestic cats and wild felids.
So, domestic cats with one or two normal copies of a gene called Taqpep have stripes, and…
