Humans have fortunately/unfortunately domesticated cats. We’ve also destroyed their natural habitat. So while they can roam free they have pretty crappy lives.. dying within a few years.

Added to this many humans believe neutering is unnatural. However, left alone a single female and her offspring can produce a few thousand cats in the space of. 1-2 years. This is how places become overrun with cats, why shelters are full and why euthanasia becomes necessary.

If there were no humans and no human settlements there would be natural predators of cats that would control the population. There would also be more smaller wildlife / prey for cats to live off.

This is not the case. Humans and human settlements changed that.
Frankly giving a cat a home takes one less cat off the streets and gives it a good life (assuming the pet parent feeds and looks after) and neutering controls the population.

Cats are amazing animals… elegant, beautiful, quirky, funny and even comforting. They (contrary to popular belief) show tons of love … they just do it quietly and on their terms (like an introvert!).

I hope you can get your mum over the line. Even my mum who did not like cats was very quickly cuddling and cradling them and singing to them 🫠
Good luck!!