Operation Acoustic Kitty (1 ene 1960 año – 30 sept 1965 año)

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Trevor Quinn
English 11
Jonathan Gerkin


The CIA is infamous for their morally questionable operations. It should come as no surprise that during a time of desperation the Central Intelligence Agency resorts to exploiting cats to help gain information. Per Tom Vanderbuilt, “the U.S. government deployed nonhuman operatives–ravens, pigeons, even cats–to spy on Cold War adversaries.” Despite the cat's reputation for their disobedient or stubborn nature, the CIA was optimistic that with proper training they could become effective spies due to their curiosity. This process entailed concealing a microphone and battery on a cat's body which was no small task due to a lack of technology at the time.

Ultimately, this cruel operation was rather unsuccessful as former CIA employee Marchietti even referred to it as a “monstrosity.” The project took place in the 1960s spanning five years and costing roughly twenty million dollars to complete. To summarize, this effort only produced one “$20 million feline radio transmitter,” only to be tragically hit and killed by a taxi prior to its first operation.


“When the CIA Learned Cats Make Bad Spies.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/news/cia-spy-cat-espionage-fail

Magazine, Smithsonian. “The CIA Experimented on Animals in the 1960s Too. Just Ask ‘Acoustic Kitty.’” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 8 Aug. 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cia-experimented-animals-1960s-too-just-ask-acoustic-kitty-180964313/.

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