there is alway some noise going on somewhere. Will this affect they way cats hit, who know for shure. I did read bout splashing the water around your area to attract fish, They even sell a plunger type device to make a thoping noise in the water, This is spost to attract cats, I know when i fish we have conversations, and even move around the boat at times, What i do wonder is can the cats feel you heart beat through the line when you pick up your rod and hold the line waiting for the next strike. It seams when the rods are in the holders they will strike but once you pick up the rod and hold the line it all stops. but put it back in to the holder you will get hits again. I fish in deep water so noise is not much of an issue, I have got cats when a water skier and wake boarders passed by or after i dropped something in my boat, But in shallow water it may be a factor, I feel that movement is more of factor in shallow water, I use to trout fish a lot and what I have read they can see in a 180 radius in every direction sort like a dome, I don't know if cats can see that well but the less movement is always better in shallow water.