Behavioural Issues

Question
We have two indoor female tortoiseshell cats (sisters) called Tiggy and Poppy which are just over a year and a half old but we are afraid we might have to re-home Tiggy because she is peeing outside the litter tray for no apparent reason.

They are both always content to use the litter tray for pooping and Poppy has never had a problem using the litter tray for peeing but Tiggy occasionally randomly will pee on the couch. She has also peed in cardboard boxes, our shopping bags and even in her own bed but it's usually on the couch and always in the same spot where I sit.

We're really confused because we have been diligent in keeping the litter tray clean throughout the day (my husband works from home during the day and I keep an eye on it at night) and she usually doesn't seem to mind using it if she happens to be in that room although occasionally if she has been shut in there she will cry and scratch to come out and will run to the couch and pee no matter how clean the tray is.

She also exhibits other unsociable behaviours such as chewing things to bits and also clawing despite also using her scratching post although these are not yet as much a problem as the peeing. We tried a citronella 'No scratch' spray but it didn't work and in some ways smelled as bad as the pee.

When we first went to pick them up from the woman who owned their mother we did notice the woman's young son, who saw Tiggy as his favourite of the litter, was very cruel towards her to the point where we felt it would be dangerous to leave her with him and we ended up leaving with her also despite originally only wanting to take on one kitten. Poppy and the other kittens were largely ignored by him and as Poppy has grown into a friendly confident cat without the toilet/chewing/scratching problems I am left wondering if it might be possible that his cruelty towards Tiggy might have caused some of the issues?
Both cats are also unspayed although we intend to rectify this next week when I get paid. Is there a chance this will stop the problems?

We are absolutely at our wits end. No amount of washing seems to remove the smell from the couch and it is becoming unbearable. We really don't want to have to re-home her but we're beginning to feel that if we can't successfully put a stop to it, then we'll be left with no choice.

Thank you for your time in reading this. I eagerly await your response.

Answer
Kayleigh,

My guess is that once the one female is spayed, she will do better at urinating where she is supposed to.  It sound as if she has been in season and inappropriate urination often goes with being in season. After she is spayed, her hormone levels should drop in a couple of weeks and her behavior should improve.  If not, please get back to me and we will see what needs to be done next.

Best regards... Norm.