My mother claims her cat speaks to her! How do I handle this?

How can you handle this?
Try humor. Not making fun of her, humor. You could say: "The cat told me you should be drinking more water".

My cat does talk to me. She used to speak only one word when I first got her 9 days ago.
She said: "Meow".
Now, she does talk in complete sentences: "Meow, mureeowww, meow, meow, meow."

I answer, "We don't have any Meow Mix, but would you like some Merrick kibble?"

LOOOOOOOL 🤣 Send!

LighteningRod: Anything could be happening. You mentioned several other delusions that are red flags-thinking people are stealing her cheeses, paranoid about you, men having crushes on her. I have learned a lot over the past year about how things can happen suddenly, or how much an elder person can cover up for their confusion. I also learned that if a person refuses any doctor’s visits or even going in an ambulance, they have the right to do that unless there are other circumstances. Adult Protective Services were even called, they made some visits to my Dad. They told us that sometimes family cannot make that person do anything against their will. They told us sometimes you just have to wait for some “fail”. Also other health care social workers, nurses and doctors said a person has a right to make bad decisions.
I know there are loving caregivers on here that have been able to accomplish things others (like my family) got nowhere trying. My Dad knew all his rights and is very sly and can put on a good show for short periods of time.
It took a lot of drama and a collection of really bad decisions before we were able to get guardianship and get him the care he needed.
I know how hard it is, but sometimes all you can do it wait.

CM and Send, I see a future in animal communication classes for you. Wouldn't that be an interesting class to configure and teach?

Or perhaps Cesar the dog trainer might consider adding animal communication to his programs.

Felines are smart! They will be able to have the sixth sense to know when their "purrson" is unwell, i.e. exhibiting behaviours like lying beside them in bed, akin to a nurse. There also have been factual stories that a human's cat could tell that their person had cancer, even before their human knew!

UTI isn’t the only major issue with mental hallucinations or failure to thrive symptoms, google HOT Parathyroid. It’s missed way to often in elderly...what may not be dementia and is always correctable....this isn’t thyroid disease, this can be sudden onset of mental issues, weight loss, loss of interest, overall not feeling fell...simple blood test.

what is the cat saying to her? in the bible GOD has used animals to
tell people things............but if its just random conversation do not just go along with it or any other situation u may feel lying is best... LYING & GO ING ALONG WITH THIS KIND OF THING DOES NOT HELP THE SITUATION...........Cats don't speak, You know this, I know this & she Knows this, Soon she will be telling others that in fact it is"YOU" that are talking with the cat....... The Devil is in the Details with DEMONTIA!