Have your pets been extra needy since Seasons?

Not only do my two cats have the neediness bug, they are also constantly frightened because they don't like the fireplace (I've just gone through a two-week winter in Brindleton Bay, so the fireplace has been in almost constant use). I haven't got to the point of wanting to get rid of them, but I am seriously thinking of editing their personalities in CAS, so as to replace the Affectionate trait with the Independent trait.