I know I said, "and that's all I'm gonna say about that," but I
have to point out that all mamalian life is intelligent (maybe not
cats).  Octipi are usually smarter than human children.  Ants, in
Florida, have adapted their social system into a multi-queen collective
to deal with poison.  And anyone who's ever been "awakened" by a rat
fears their uncanny intelligence.  (Note, you have to be physically
asleep and have the rat wake you up into survival mode).