For your mom, I suggest getting a box for the kitty to sit in on her lap. My boy Sid isn't much of a lap kitty unless he can be in a box. Then I can have him on my lap and pet him as much as I want. Your situation is different, but this might also work. I use a box top with Sid, so that the sides are only a couple of inches high.

As for furniture scratching - sorry, I don't know the answer here - if you saw my furniture you would know that I don't know the answer to this problem.