If the goal is to protect the siding and extend the life of the building because of peeling paint and sun damage, I would paint.

Especially with a knockdown or orange peel texture.  

Even a homemade duct blowing into a clear face mask. 

You cannot mask this scent - anyone who doesn't have a cat will notice it through the layers of room deodorizer.You could try running an ionizer, but don't expect great results.

Wear long clothes, glasses, and a mask/respirator.Note: A little bit of research will go a long way.

Yep, it was oil based, and now has to be redone since the vinyl paint is now peeling!

From reading other forums, vinyl seems unpopular here because it wears out quickly too and will peel away.

Two years later the paint was peeling off the walls and windowsills in her bathroom, there was mold everywhere, and she said she didn't know there was a fan switch (it was right there next to the light switch).

So you'll want to ensure all those painted surfaces are intact (not peeling, not cracking, not flaking).

I looked up potential solutions - cheaper than eviction, maybe provide your tenant with some of these "sploofs":"To mask the smell, many people construct what is known as a 'sploof' – a simple device through which the smoke is blown in an effort to mask its smell with other smells.