The rare and beautiful Spanish Lynx may be the exotic cat that is closest to extinction in the wild.

The beautiful Spanish Lynx is a nocturnal cat, hunting chiefly in the twilight hours. In the winter, however, diurnal activity will increase. In the wild the Spanish Lynx predominantly hunts rabbits and hares, though they are occasionally known to hunt wildfowl and small deer. This behavior is different from that of their cousins the Eurasian Lynx. Eurasian Lynx are known to hunt primarily ungulates. The Spanish Lynx is found primarily in scrublands. This is another behavior, which distinguishes it from the Eurasian Lynx, which is found primarily in forests.

The Spanish Lynx, also known as the "Iberian Lynx" or "Pardel Lynx", is sometimes confused with its close cousin the Eurasian Lynx, which has a more northern habitat than the Spanish Lynx. In some areas they are considered a subspecies of the Eurasian Lynx, while in others they are recognized as a distinct species. Either way, the two can be distinguished by the smaller size of the Spanish Lynx, they are about half the size of the Eurasian Lynx. In addition, they have more noticeable spotting due to their lighter coat color. The primary color of the Spanish Lynx's coat is a light yellowish-brown, with dark brown spots. The average mature Spanish Lynx weighs between 9 and 13 kilograms, and measures 85 to 110 centimeters in length. Females are generally smaller than males.

The Spanish Lynx has made its home in Spain as well as parts of Portugal and Southern France. Today they are only found in Southern Spain and Portugal. Their primary habit lays on the Iberian Peninsula, hence their other common name, the "Iberian Lynx". Sadly the Spanish Lynx is critically endangered in the wild, and they are no longer seen in much of their former range. There are several causes for their decline. These beautiful animals have been hunted to a critical level. They are sometimes taken for their striking coats, and are also hunted by farmers that are tired of them raiding their livestock. Hunting is still legal in some areas. In addition to hunting, the loss of their primary prey, the European Rabbit, to disease has greatly hurt them.

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The Spanish Lynx reaches sexual maturity by about one year of age, though environment and demographics can affect the exact time. This beautiful cat has a distinct breeding season, which begins in January and ends some time in July. They seem to be most actively breeding between the months of January and February. For this reason, most births occur between March and April. After mating the female Spanish Lynx undergoes a gestation period of approximately two months. They will generally have between two and three kittens, though it is common for one of the offspring to die before reaching maturity. Kittens reach independence between seven and ten months of age. Mature kittens will often remain near their mothers until approximately 20 months of age. The Spanish Lynx is usually able to breed until they are 10 years old.