This is the second timeI freaked out the first time, and it was suggested to me to put a note by the cat litter box. That reads. “Do not Touch cat litter. Susie will clean”. I literally clean it three times a day! We live Together in a small senior apartment now I have it next to the toilet unless I move it somewhere else?
Cat feces can have toxoplasmosis as well as E. coli. It’s a safety hazard for mom to touch it without gloves.
Since indoor only cats don’t carry that risk, their poop is sort of safer. Still not safe to touch though. Ick.
So I'm thinking if you don't have a cover for the litter box, get one with a Cover , then turn it around so it faces the wall, but enough room for kitty to get in. So like 2 feet out or so, but mom won't see the kitty poo
I am impressed that your Mom can squat down to put her hands into the litter box, then stand up with the poop, and then put it into the toilet. I am only 78 years old, and squatting down and trying to stand back up is a major challenge.
See if getting a bright red litter scooper would help, as that color would stand out.
She will not stop this behavior on her own. And it will get worse. She is beyond what a senior apartment can offer, even with you there. If possible, it’s time to look at memory care for her.
You are not suppose to flush cat do do down the toilet. The little becomes like mud and the clumping type even worse. It will clog pipes. Maybe time to place Mom. I can't imagine being cooped up incan apt with someone suffering from Dementia.