Don,
I am truly sorry to hear about Scooter. I had cats for year - until my wife developed allergies. We have had as many as 10 at one time and when each passed on, it was like one of our kids. I have to be satisfied when I visit daughter Kim that both of her cats seem to find my lap for a snooze (along with her monster 90+ pound Bernese Swiss mountain dog)

If she doesn't make it - get another as soon as you are comfortable with a stranger in your midst - it wont be for long.