The interaction between CO (either via the C or the O end) and the alkaline cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) has been studied by means of six nb initio methods, featuring the classical Hartree-Fock, the second order Moller-Plesset treatment of electron correlation, one local density functional and two gradient-cornered methods as well as a quadratic configuration interaction inclusive of single and double substitutions with a noniterative triples contribution to the energy. Basis sets adopted for CO, Li+, Na+, and K+ and the corresponding adducts are of triple-xi valence quality augmented with a double set of polarization functions (d on C and O; p on the cations). For Rb+ and Cs+, Hay-Wadt effective core potential basis sets have been adopted. Calculated features are the binding energy, the frequency and intensity of the CO stretch, the bending mode, the cation-carbon (or oxygen) stretch, and the equilibrium geometry. Gradient-corrected density functional methods yield results nearly as good as the most expensive correlated method based on configurations interaction. A number of correlations are established among the observables. The role of electrostatics in the interaction is analyzed both by studying the molecular electrostatic potential of CO and by replacing the cation with a proton in the same position. Binding through the C end is invariably preferred, though, with increasing size of the cation, binding through the O end become progressively less unfavored. Experimental data concerning alkaline-cation substituted zeolites are compared with computational results, and an overall agreement is observed.