My 2 cents...
cats and dogs do what comes naturally..they are not people, they don't reason. Owners are supposed to be "in control" at all times. This may or may not require a leash (an aggressive dog at the end of a retractable 10 ft leash is NOT under anyone's control..I hate those things).
For this particular incident, I think whoever let their dogs wander free is responsible..the cat was in his own yard. But I live in the suburbs and I kept our cats strictly in the house for their own protection, and because I don't like sifting cat poop out of my flower beds or the g-baby's sandbox and figure my neighbor's don't either!
My dog was always in her own yard, or on a short leash at my side. She was not friendly and I knew it. Still, even though I would block her from other dogs and she was growling, people would let their animals and KIDS approach her (especially in the waiting room at the vets) until I would say "she will attack and bite". Mind you my Cleo was a large Rottweiler!! and extremely protective of her family. And then these people would give me a look like I was in the wrong because they had to control their dog and/or kid. Really, are they stupid? Didn't anyone ever teach them some pet etiquette, or haven't they been bitten and learned their lesson? Unlike parents today who would sue me in a minute after they did nothing to keep their kid or pet from being bitten,my mother gave me a spanking both times that I was biten as a kid for pestering an animal I knew I should have left be in the 1st place!! (Really, she was a great mom, and we learned life involves consequences). Forgive the rant, Its one of my pet peeves!! :D
Good luck getting anyone to step up to their resposibility and help..but they should!
Mary