In the 1960s, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) started a strange and secret project called Acoustic Kitty. This project was part of the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology, and its goal was to use cats as spies. The idea was to send cats into the Soviet Union and listen to what people were saying, especially at the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C., and other important places.

The procedure to modify the cats was a complex one. A veterinary surgeon performed an hour-long surgery to implant a microphone into the cat's ear canal, a small radio transmitter at the base of its skull, and a thin wire along its fur. This equipment allowed the cat to secretly record and transmit audio from its environment. However, one issue that arose was that the cat could be distracted by its surroundings, so a second operation was necessary to address the cat's hunger. Former CIA officer Victor Marchetti later claimed that the entire project cost around $20 million.

"One cat just leads to another.”

Ernest Hemingway

Mission 1

The first mission for Acoustic Kitty was to eavesdrop on two individuals in a park outside the Soviet embassy in Washington, D.C. The cat was released nearby, but tragically, it was struck by a taxi almost immediately after being deployed, resulting in its death. Despite this, Robert Wallace, former director of the CIA's Office of Technical Service, disputed this version of events in 2013. He stated that the project was ultimately abandoned not because of the cat’s demise, but due to the difficulty in training the animals to behave as required. Wallace claimed that the equipment was removed, the cat was re-sewn, and it lived a long and happy life afterwards.

Subsequent tests also proved unsuccessful, leading the CIA to consider the project a failure. The programme was officially cancelled in 1967, with a memorandum concluding that, although it might be possible to train a cat to move short distances, "the environmental and security factors in using this technique in a real foreign situation" made it impractical for intelligence purposes. The project remained classified until 2001, when documents were declassified and made available to the public.

Why It Captures the Imagination

The Acoustic Kitty project is indeed a fascinating, albeit bizarre, chapter in Cold War espionage. While the official story has been declassified, there is still a good deal of mystery and intrigue surrounding the project, especially considering how ambitious—and ultimately unsuccessful—it was.

"Kittens are angels with whiskers".

Alexis Flora Hope

The Acoustic Kitty project has persisted in popular culture as a symbol of Cold War-era paranoia and the often strange lengths to which intelligence agencies were willing to go in their pursuit of information. It’s also become a bit of a "laughing stock" in some circles due to its strange premise and its lack of success.

Despite its failure, the project serves as an interesting reminder of the unconventional methods intelligence agencies were willing to explore during a time when the stakes of the Cold War were incredibly high.

Vocabulary List:

1. Espionage (noun) –  The practice of spying or using spies to obtain information.
   • Example: The camouflage and secrecy of espionage
2. Veterinary surgeon (noun) –  A medical professional who specialises in the treatment of animals.
   • Example: The veterinary surgeon has completed the surgery on our dog.
3. Radio transmitter (noun) –  A device that sends signals, typically for communication.
   • Example: The police needed the radio transmitter to report back.
4. Eavesdrop (verb) –   To listen in on someone’s private conversation without their knowledge.
   • Example: My father eavesdropped on my phone calls
5. Disputed (adjective) –  Argued or challenged.
   • Example: The point has been much disputed.
6. Memorandum (noun) –  A written message, often used in business or government settings.
   • Example: He told them of his decision in a memorandum.
7. Declassified (adjective) –  Officially made public, typically after being kept secret for a period.
   • Example: She called for more research before any moves are made to declassify the drug in Ireland
8. Albeit (conjunction) –   Although.
   • Example: He was making progress, albeit rather slowly.

Discussion Questions and Topics:

1. What was the primary aim of the Acoustic Kitty project?
2. What were the key challenges that led to the failure of the Acoustic Kitty project?
3. What do you think about using animals, like cats, for espionage purposes?
4. How do you feel about the ethical implications of performing surgery on animals for intelligence gathering?
5. Why do you think the CIA would have invested such a large amount of money in a project that seemed so unconventional?
6. What is your favourite animal, and why?
7. Do you think the Acoustic Kitty project reflects a lack of understanding of animal behaviour, or was it simply ahead of its time?