Is there a credible list of disclosed secret projects like this? Would make a fun read
https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/collection/animal-pa...
By the way, on the off chance that anyone reading this was involved in or has a friend or family member involved in this kind of work, please let me know if you think they might want to talk to me! I'm currently interviewing people. Contact info in my profile.
Take the common attitude to somewhat more contemporary conspiracy theories... They seem far more believable than a scheme like this. Yet the government appears to ratify this story.
Might it not just be a more sophisticated layer of misinformation?
- now your enemy is complacent, secure in the knowledge that you are super super dumb
- now your enemy is on the lookout for dog and cat listening devices rather than the 5th generation bird listening devices
- now your enemy is indeed paranoid about any stupid animal roaming about and has to meet in enclosed spaces
- you, knowing that experimenting on cute cats is unethical, seek to terminate the practice by devising an experiment that fails so embarrassingly as to never be tried again
etc