Girl cat peeing on bags, thoughts as to why?

[Deargodletitgo]

We have two cats and had found that random bags have been weed on previously, but not seen the culprit until my girl cat did it almost right in front of me on my daughter's school bag. She wasn't long in from being outside and usually settled upstairs but Tonight did this.

For context she's a rescue, nervous and wary, lives in a house with another rescue who is dominant and who she doesn't really get on with at all as he's a twat.

I'm here all the time, two kids half the week and my partner around the other half (she loves him but his bag and shoes have come in for the wee treatment). White cushions have also suffered, and a leather bag of mine. Always down stairs.

She is allowed out during the day, does have a litter tray but can be quite fussy about it so will change the litter.

This is irregular, so I would think behavioural. Any advice?

I missed the bit where OP said she was growling.

That's really not normal in multi-cat homes and it's a real sign of fear and insecurity. The same goes for hissing. People think it's aggression but the vast majority of the time, it happens because the animal is scared.

Also, is it a recent thing. It can be a sign of health problems - uti’s, kidneys

I’d look up Jackson galaxy on YouTube he has videos on all kinds of pet behavioural problems, they may help to find a way for them to get along.

I've got 2 cats and just one litter tray. Never been an issue. It does get cleaned out every 3 days

@Cowlover89 we did growing up as well. But my vet advised where there isn't a good relationship between cats it can lead to issues, hence the advice one each and one neutral.

Some cats don't care but one of the first things you should do if one cats starts with inappropriate toileting is more trays.

No, it's been ongoing for some time, but very occasionally.

They have one each but given they are only locked inside from 9ish to 4/6 am they don't actually tend to use them. He has a covered tray, hers isn't. Its currently filled with unused litter and has been for weeks

She also growls if someone comes to the door.

She sounds incredibly anxious and fearful - not helped by having to share her space with a dominant cat that she doesn't get along with.

She's telling the other cat (and the guests) to back off out of her space and go away. Was she like this before the other cat came along?

Yes, I was warned she was timid. She's fine with people she knows and even sits on my partners lap and sleeps now...not that I'm bitter 🤣

She happily goes outside though, and has started interacting with our neighbor.

She's not trapped outside though.

True, and comes back in the evening, and I need to make sure she has a safe space for when he comes back. She does sleep on the sofa downstairs if he's upstairs.

I let them come and go overnight so she could feel like she had more space and control after the weeing incident. I hadn't told her off.

Yes, separate spaces is vital I think.

If she's indoors with nowhere to go, she has no choice but to show her displeasure through her behaviour, whereas outdoors she has other options.

It's why cats often show signs of aggression/fear if they're cornered or trapped - they have nowhere to go and can't say to you "I'm scared" so their only other choice is to growl/hiss/spit.