I never said anything about them being attacked. The fact that an old person was walking a cat so casually is evidence of a lack of bear awareness. It is evidence of a community acting in a manner that encourages bad bear behaviours. I live in bear country (BC). I see them almost every day. Seniors and others with with diminished mobility are encouraged not to walk alone wherever bears may be active. Sitting quietly is also a bad idea. People are told to make noise, to make their active presence known. Many hikers go so far as to carry "bear bells", even "bear bangers", to ensure bears don't become habituated. And bears eat cats all the time. A cat on a leash is like a popsicle on a stick to a bear.