In the sentence hearing the footsteps of its owner the cat jumped down from the kitchen countertop which word does the participial phrase modify a cat the owner ,footsteps ,or countertop

Your denunciation of tyrants brass fronted impudence; your shout of liberty and what is the meaning of denunciation as used in this sentence? a) excessive self-assurance b) to deceive, delude, or disappoint c) a ruler who governs without restrictions d) to condemn or censure openly or publicly