Cool. One of the many orb weavers. (Someone else will likely tell you precisely which one.)

Looks like an araneus species. We have lots of them this time of year, and I often manage to walk right into the webs!

At first I thought it was the Barn orb weaver, but I think it might be this one. This is an enormous (population-wise) group of spiders, all very beautiful and interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: catsface spider

Catface spider, Dat's da one. Thanks Peg

I have the same thing on my front porch. Strangest looking thing I'd ever seen. My husband and I were stumped. We thought it was a garden orb spider.

Well, it IS one of the orb weaving spiders, a large group of interesting and active arachnids.

Well, we couldn't stand the suspense. So we went and got the poor spider and ID'd it under my magnifying lamp. Sure 'nuff, there was the face and ears of a cat. What a COOL, GREAT, WONDERFUL spider! We put it back in the same place. I feel bad for disturbing it.