@Green Witch,
First of all, I didn't find the article amusing. Of course cat owners (I am one) should be responsible for keeping their pets under control, preferly indoors. My wife and I do, always have. I am all for charging owners of cats who let their animals roam, like dogs.
On the other hand, what is a big snake doing loose? No responsibility there?
As far as keeping cats (just like having any pets, like dogs), there can be potential problems, but we have not experienced most of what you list. When we had two cats, neither of them attacked the furniture, but used the large scratching post we provided. Yes, there is the odd hairball, but dogs barf, too.
As far as litterbox smell, it only smells if you do not regularly attend to it. Too many folks don't. We do this several times a day, every day (just like if you had to take a dog outdoors), and we do not have a smell problem with it, and I'm not lying. As well as removing the waste, we clean the actual box itself. If this is done, no problems occur. If you're lazy about it, yes, it won't smell fresh.
As with the ownership of any pet, if one isn't responsible, it can be a nuisance to others. Perhaps we are the exception.