How can I remove the cat my mother loves even though she can't care for it?

Your mother has suffered enough losses in her life (obviously a spouse, independence, health, home, personal belongings,etc) please don't make her suffer the loss of her best friend. Pets become 'family' to replace the family that is seldom there. They are a great source of comfort. Please be compassionate enough towards your mother in her last days/months/years to ensure she has at least some small enjoyment and companionship as provided by her beloved cat. Make the minute effort to have her cat checked by a vet for the cause, as suggested. Also, there is a product called 'Anti-icky-poo' that works on urine stains. That company also make products especially for urine stains, also. And, don't rule out the fact that the caregiver(s) may not be treating the cat well - this may be his/her only way to say that something isn't right in that environment. After all, they can't speak to tell us. Animals don't intentionally do things to 'get back at us', etc, so this behavior is a cat's attempt to communicate some type of problem.

Pay her care giver a little extra money to clean the cat box and to do the other chores associated with the cat including taking the cat to the vet to be sure there is no problems. Older cats get thyroid disease and that can also cause the urination problems but can easily be taken care of with medication and your Mom could then keep her friend especially since you live so far away.

Lots of good suggestions here already. The only thing I would add is to perhaps set out a couple of other litter boxes in areas where the cat is reported to be urinating inappropriately. I have been fulltime caregiver for my 92 year old mother-in-law with dementia for over a year now. When I took this on, it involved me moving out of my house about 20 miles away, where my husband, 3 cats and one adult son still live) and staying in her house with her. I was concerned about my oldest cat, and when my mother-in-law said one say that she thought she would like a cat (she never had cats and only one dog briefly during her married life) I took the opportunity to bring my oldest one along. It has been very good for both the cat and me. My MIL has basically ignored the cat, and the cat pretty much ignores her. If I suddenly had to face being without the cat, I would be a wreck. This may sound crazy, but this cat has been an amazingly good companion for me here the past 16 months, and has been one of my most therapeutic resources. I can only imagine how hard it would be on my MIL if she were the one attached to the cat and we were to get rid of it. Try everything you can before getting rid of the cat, for the sake of your mother and the cat. Good luck!

My vet says that two litter boxes in different locations is the first step to solving this problem (if there is no UTI). Also there are scents you plug in an outlet, humans don't smell it, but it calms cats down and helps eliminate this behavior, google it....

Please try to find anther way to solve this problem, the cat probably as a uti, been there with my own cat. I had to take my dads truck keys away from him for his own safety in december 2011, on February 5 I found him on the floor where he had been for quite a while, our life changed that day. He has been in the nursing home since its not all bad e is in the oom with my mom so they are together again. My point is when I took his truck keys on dec. 17 he lost his will to live. Is truck was his life. My dads dementia progressed so far some days he doesn't know me. If you take her best friend you will change everything about her, she could lose the will to live. Your pet is your best friend, there's no telling how many secrets tht cat knows. Please let us know what you decide to do.

I found the plug-in product, it is called Feliway. It helped in my case.

The cat obviously needs to go to the vet. What kind of heartless person would want to take away the last tiny bit of comfort your mother has in the world? Pay the caregiver a little extra for cleaning up after the cat and you can take the cat to the vet to see what is wrong. There are plenty of odor neutralizers at Petsmart to completely eradicate the cat odor. Consider your mother! Be sure the cat is spayed/neutered. I want to send hugs to everyone who has supported the mother and her cat. You have your hearts in the right places.

oh gosh sakes!!
SAVE the CAT..it has nothing to do wrong..change it's cat litter..provide catnip..grass/oats grownin a pot..CLEAN WATER.HEALTHY APPROPRIATE FOOD.TREATS..CAN THIS PRECIOUS CAT LOOK OUT THE WINDOW..IS IT UNDER STRESS there....IT IS THE SMELLS IN perhaps the house is not being cared for..or toilets not being flushed ..
just GOOD LITTER/Clean litter..CLEAN WATER/APPROPRIATE FOOD.
Please.
these are SOLUTIONS
as a Vet Assistant..there are many Natural things you can do for it.
MAIN: Clean LITTER
Clean Water
Appropriate Food for its age..fresh air/window to breath out of..
Could be under Stress in the environment..I am positive.
God's Creature's cannot talk..but, they do this to show that they are Stressed.

Several ODOR ABSORBING LITTER BOXES.
FRESH WATER
CALL THE VET ABOUT PROPER FOOD at it's age.
plug in some air fresheners/pop up ones..etc..
Open windows a bit..so it can look out also.please
God's blessings to God's silent Creatures.

My beloved maltese dog died in February and when I told my 89 year old mother and father of his death they became inconsolable. They loved him with all their heart and he kept them entertained, happy and engaged for many years. The only time that I saw my Dad cry or mother hysterical was when their parents died. He truly was special and kept my parents alive. (The vet bills could have purchased a luxury car- it was all worth it and I would do it again)

Please do everything in your power to keep your mother's furry friend. The suggestions on this post are wonderful.

I may be crazy but I brought home a "rescue dog", six weeks ago. He is loving, adorable, a challenge, and needs training. Two months ago, he was severely underweight, had anxiety attacks, had an eye operation, was matted and shaved, walking the streets and had bite marks on his face (maltese/poodle mix). Today, he is wagging his tail, playing with toys, visiting a nursing home, his hair is growing and he is becoming quite an adorable little guy. Mom follows him around the house, plays with him, feeds him and calls him honey. He is a new project and she now has another focus and something to love (dad is in a nursing home now). As I write this post I am listening to a conversation that mom is having with Charle. She taught him to shake and he is now receiving a treat. (Training another dog,getting up at 5:30 am, it is all worth it)

Please do not give Kitty away. There is a solution for almost everything!

Getting rid of the cat would break your Mom's heart.
I agree about taking the cat to the vet's to check for a UTI and keeping the litter box clean. Have the caregiver scrub the inside and outside of the litter box occasionally, too.

I would like to add that after the area where kitty peed is cleaned up, have her caregiver use vinegar to neutralize the odor.

There are other things on the market that do basically the same thing but vinegar is inexpensive and has worked well for me when my cats have peed on clothing, floors or carpets. After the cleaning with vinegar, I then use another pleasant smelling cleaner to get rid of the vinegar smell.
I believe that cats will urinate in the same spot if they can still smell their own urine.

PAY ATTENTION! she said that she would take the cat to the vet and try to enlist a caretaker for the cat.

no one need be mean to her!!! some of you got quite out of hand. she is one of us you know, a daughter dealing with a frustrating situation. be kind.

You can also go to a pet store n buy something like a diffuser that will help calm the cat to prevent the spray. First take the cat to the vet to see what is going on with him. Cats r very clean animal n they don;'t like a dirty potty box. You can also buy a spritz water bottle n pour about 1 cup of water to 4 tbls of vinagar where he is spraying to prevent him from doing it again. Of course the place may smell like vinagar. That cat is like a child to her n if the cat is gone you may be dealing with a bigger issue soon afterward. It be n healthier to find why the cat is spraying in first place n the vet can give you the answer. here is a website that explains why n what can be

Yes, the "Feliway" that I mentioned earlier comes in a plug-in diffuser, and they are great for multi-cat environments or during adjustment periods. They do tend to be expensive to use over time, but I've had good luck with those too. I still like the spray. I'd like to also say that I feel that NASTY remarks are uncalled for!!! If "leslaning" didn't CARE, she wouldn't have asked for help, and kitty would already be in a new home. Anyone who has tried to hold down a job and take care of their own household knows that a two-hour drive (four for round trip, I'm guessing) is no small feat, and things get soooo exhausting. Everyone's life and experiences are different, and you can't know all the details. We all need to be kind to each other here, because nobody would be on this site if they weren't trying to do right by their loved ones...hopefully