Sometimes, cats are not just pets; as agile animals, they can also play specific roles in certain periods, such as spies. The United States once trained cats as spies to collect intelligence. However, we know that spies must possess intelligent minds, adaptability, strong willpower, and other abilities beyond ordinary people. Looking at our cute cats at home who only know how to act adorable, do they really have the qualities to be spies?

　　Why can cats be spies?

　　1. Cats are clever, nimble, and have the conditions to be spies

　　Everyone knows cats are very clever and smart; some cats are especially intuitive. Most cats are agile and physically skilled. For this reason, the CIA once trained a cat as a “spy,” installing a listening device on it, attempting to eavesdrop. Unfortunately, on the first mission, in the chaotic traffic, the cat was run over by a taxi before it could reach the target destination.

　　2. Specific implementation of cat spies

　　According to foreign media reports: US CIA documents released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that the CIA attempted to use cats as spies by implanting listening devices on them.

　　The related documents confirmed a former CIA agent’s task, indicating the CIA experimented with eavesdropping using cats. CIA researchers performed surgery opening the cat’s abdomen to implant a listening device and battery inside, and installed an antenna on the tail, then conducted relevant training.

　　Historically, some clever cats have also been suspected of being spies. In 2009, Freya, the cat of UK Chancellor Osborne, went missing. Two years later, she was suddenly found and returned. In the following months, Freya mysteriously roamed between various UK government agencies. Recently, a UK government official suggested this elusive cat might carry a monitor “implanted by a foreign country.” Osborne’s staff joked that the Chancellor’s cat can go anywhere. During a naval exercise, it appeared in the war room and often visited pubs frequented by senior UK officials. It also once went to the Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street. Conservative officials privately said they suspected other countries used Freya to spy on British secrets. Because Freya not only frequently visited government offices but also the bars most visited by 007 intelligence operatives.

　　Therefore, cats seem like perfect spies: they are small, stealthy, and excellent at charming humans. Humans (foolishly) talk about all sorts of secrets while petting cats. This is why the CIA decided to implant listening devices in cats and train them to carry out espionage at designated locations. But are domestic cats really suitable for being spies now?

　　In the CIA experiments, they easily implanted instruments inside cats. But training cats is not easy. It’s simple to confine a cat to one place, but once you release it, you must despair about the tasks given: cats will only do what trainers want as long as they are not bored. Or if they get distracted. Or if they are hungry. Also, people need to understand that a cat is in one of these states most of the time.

　　In the CIA’s first cat mission, a CIA employee released the cat, which approached the target a few steps, then decisively ran off with a taxi.

　　After spending twenty million US dollars and five years, the cat was finally dismissed. The CIA’s final evaluation of this failed project was: it’s impractical. But this project was not entirely useless: the CIA discovered through it that cats could be trained to move short distances. However, to be a real spy, you’d need cats born with extraordinary talents and exceptional aptitude. (Source：PetsZone)