Cat urination / temperment

Question
We have a 3 year old male (neutered) cat that has never been outdoors.  He is nasty to anyone who comes into our home, and even towards our own kids at times.  He bites and scratches, yowls and hisses.  He has attacked neighbor kids on two occasions seriously enough that there were long, bleeding scratches and defined puncure wounds from bites.  
He also urinates on anything that is left out.  The kids drop their backpacks by the door and they are targeted, any type of throw pillow is ruined, clean laundry left on the counter to be taken upstairs is peed on, and yesterday he urinated on my kitchen table on top of the homework my daughter had just completed.  He has ruined countless pairs of shoes, rugs, backpacks and jackets left by the door.  He goes in the closets and pees if the door is left open even a small amount.  He knows it is wrong, because he doesn't do it if we are home. It is almost as if he is doing it to be spiteful!  He also poops outside his box about 50% of the time.  We have not moved his box, changed litter, or had any major changes in the house. My furniture is ruined, my rugs are smelly and I can't get them clean.......I am truly at my wits end.
My husband is ready to get rid of the cat, either through the animal shelter or putting him to sleep.  Is there anything else we can try?  I have considered orienting him to the outside, but don't know if that is possible since he has never been out before.  I don't know what else to do!  My oldest daughter absolutely loves him dispite his nasty behavior, and will be heartbroken if we get rid of him.  She sobs if we even mention he may have to go.  Please help!

Answer
Hello Dee!

Have you taken him in to see a vet to rule out any health issues?  It really sounds like that could be the case, given his behaviour.  Sometimes if a cat has some sort of bladder condition (either crystals or an infection), they'll pee outside the litterbox, either due to not being able to hold it, or to try to communicate to their owners that they're not feeling well.  I would recommend taking him in to be sure first of all.

If you have already done that, and have found nothing wrong, let me know, and I'll give you other advice, but that definitely sounds like the case here.

Let me know how it goes, ok?

Hugs to you all!  I know it's rough having your things ruined by a situation like this...just try to be patient and see things through his eyes.  :o)

Rosie*