Hey, can someone pass me the remote?

If you think people can play mind games, try Gizmo. Yeah, she’s that smart.

While there is no I.Q. test for cats per se, if there was, her results could quite possibly force Mensa to raise its standards.

Incidentally, there is an I.Q. test for dogs, from PoochIQ.com. Unfortunately, it’s not just about keeping up with the Jones anymore—it’s about keeping up with their dog Spot, too. But before you get bragging rights, your dog must first complete more than a dozen mentally rigorous exercises to gauge its intelligence in various areas ranging from short-term memory to problem solving skills.

Gizmo wouldn’t really call any dog that actually completes all 15 exercises intelligent at all. You see, cat-smarts is measured more by what they can get you to do for them, not the other way around. Read more »

It takes a certain kind of person to rescue abused animals and witness incomprehensible cruelty on a regular basis.

The war on animal abuse is not for the faint hearted. The new TV series Rescue Ink Unleashed, produced by National Geographic Channel, has found the perfect people for the job: a motley crew of tattooed New York-tough guys with 1,700-lbs of bulging muscles and soft hearts. Read more »

Doink. Doink. Doink…

I was awoken last night around midnight by strange noises coming from the living room. Doink. There was Gizmo on top of the keyboard trying to sabotage my work; my computer was crying for help.

She’s never been very fond of the computer. In fact, weeks ago I returned home one day only to find its down arrow key amputated and tossed to the ground as carelessly as a Big Mac wrapper at a bus stop. Gizmo pretended to be asleep.

Today, she’s been parked on my keyboard on and off since 7 a.m. It’s just her way of saying, “enough, already.”

I’m starting to get the feeling I’m embarrassing her writing about this toilet-training business, but it won’t be for long. Week two is over. The litter box is right next to the toilet and her veterinarian gave the green light to continue the training process. Read more »

Okay, if you’ve been living in a brown paper bag—like ’lil Gizmo—you may have missed the recent launch of Twitter a Critter.

Brainchild of the non-profit pet adoption charity, Adopt a Pet, animals in need are now able to reach out for help via social media, like, you guessed it, Twitter.

Even if you’re not in a position to adopt, you can still help save a pet’s life in three easy steps:

1. Go to adoptapet.com and use the search tool to find a pet who needs a home. Read more »