I've had cats and dogs...
and the dogs I've had have always caused more damage than my cats. I can't imagine that cats create too much trouble. They do bury their poop. Maybe I've just had exceptionally polite felines...:)
Yes, I know letting your cat outdoors exposes it to certain dangers, but so does keeping it indoors (obesity, anxiety, boredom). It's up to the owner to decide what works best with them and their animal. I am of course more than willing to compensate for any damage my animal does, but the only thing my cat can be accused of is sitting on my neighbour's porch.