Congrats on your new job, jenb!!! A big "whoo hoo" from me to you! :-)
Yes, my cats are sensitive to my moods, to varying degrees. The most sensitive cat was my 1st cat, a gorgeous DSH tabby, that I still miss terribly, seven years after his death. He had the most expressive face and would come to me immediately with a worried frown and big, expressive eyes whenever I was upset. He'd cry and either stroke my knee from his position on the floor, or he'd get on my lap, facing me and rub along me, trying to "make it better." My calico (also dead) was very sensitive too, but not to the degree of the 1st cat. As for the 3 current cats, the Bengal is the least caring. The DSH and the Tonk are concerned if they hear me crying. Still, no one is like my first cat, Cheetah. He & I were soul mates with an incredible, otherworldly connection!!!