Unless there is a new species hitherto undiscovered, Justine Roberts' simile, that "trying to get mumsnetters to vote the same way is like wrestling with a pre-menstrual octopus" makes no sense. Menstruation only occurs amongst mammals, thus excludes invertebrates.
Octopi are nevertheless remarkable animals in terms of intelligence and learning ability. Knowledge tends to come from survival experience and almost no influence comes from the parent. After egg fertilisation, females do not eat and die shortly after the eggs hatch. Males die soon after intercourse. Intercourse itself involves the male passing sperm to the female who proceeds to fertilise her eggs at some point later. Death is genetically programmed, the creature cannot elect for an extended life.
Very few octopi are dangerous to humans. Octopi can make pets. Peckish individuals have been known to climb out of their tanks and head for the nearest goldfish bowl.