No on all counts. My house is extraordinarily quiet. I have the AC on most times so that cuts down on noise and even when I have the windows open, there really isn't anything happening outside that should frighten her. It's a quiet neighborhood. Puddy has always been the alpha female and she always loved hanging w/the humans. Her head would go back and forth from person to person while we were conversing as though she understood everything we said. I've always said that she's a human in a calico's body. LOL