Hi, just asking for my mum as her 3 yr old Rex cat was pts last week. It was all very unexpected. She had surgery for an abscess on her leg but never seemed right after the op and died a week later after a few nights stay at the vets. Still not really sure what went wrong, but vet said may have been a problem with her immune system ?

Anyway, her other cat is missing her so much and I haven't broached the subject with my mum yet as she is still so upset but if she did at some point decide to adopt another rescue cat (she would probably want an older cat as she is a pensioner), how likely is it that her existing cat would accept another cat and would another spayed female be best, or a male ? Sorry, I have no feline experience but I do know some of you breed pedigree cats as well as dogs.
Any advice would be most appreciated. Am wondering if perhaps it would just be best to let her cat come to terms with the loss of her best friend and adapt as an only cat ? Thanks in advance.

Sorry to hear about your Mum's cat. Animals do adapt to loss with time. How old is the cat ?. I do think it's a bit too early for your Mum and the remaining cat to get another one and a lot will depend on the cat's personality. Sometimes they will never accept another one so it can be very tricky and would be awful if a rescue cat had to be handed back. Personally I'd let Mum spoil her cat rotten and enjoy eachothers company for quite some time.

I honestly would go for a kitten. I have never, ever come across a case of where an adult cat has not accepted a kitten, although it can take a few weeks for it to be fully accepted. (The trick is to spoil the adult and only play with the kitten when the adult is out of the room.) An adult will be much harder (take longer to be accepted) and it is in no way guaranteed. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Sex doesn't make any difference in either case. What breed is the existing cat? Some breeds are much easier when it comes to introducing newcomers. Also the longer it is left, the harder it will be as the cat will eventually get used to being a single cat and once single, won't want to be anything but. Much is said about cats not being pack animals etc etc, but in reality, a single cat will become MUCH more lazy than one that has company, the cats with feline company retain a lot more of their playfulness. To be blunt, single cats are often extremely boring creatures that prefer to just eat and sleep. :) If it was me I'd get a kitten ASAP.

Thanks so much for the replies. I am unsure if my Mum would consider a kitten as she is a pensioner. Her existing cat is not pedigree and is 6 years old. Funny you should mention re laziness as my Mum was just saying today that as she is the only cat she just sleeps all the time whereas her other cat used to always instigate play with her.
It is too early I think to decide on another cat, although I accept a kitten would probably be her only option anyway. It would be awful if she did take on an older cat and it didn't work out, I doubt very much my Mum would wish to take that risk.
I was away on hol whilst all this happened and I am planning to make an appt with the vet to see why a relatively young cat (6) should die from an abscess, although admittedly it did take my mum a couple of days to realise the cause of her not seeming herself was due to the abscess. Maybe that short delay was crucial :-( No matter what I don't think my Mum will come to terms with it all without me taking her back to get a proper explanation (she is hard of hearing and couldn't hear half of what he was saying when he advised PTS was only option.)

Marriane B I think our Lotus must have been an exception ! yes I supose she has accepted the intruder now (he was 7 weeks old when he arrived ) 2 years on  and will stay and eat next to Bentley they also sniff each other but thats it. Mind she is a burmese and they are cats of extremes !

I agree with the kitten thing! I just bunged my two in a room and let them sort it out themselves! They have their moments now but generally they lurve each other!