New kitten for my cat?

Question
My cat is about six years old. She is very spoiled and a bit violent. She bites and claws, but also cuddles and purrs. We have been students her whole life, and have had very flexible sheduals, giving her very little time alone. We will soon be getting "real" jobs, and are worried she will be lonley. We are considering adopting a kitten, but are worried about the consiquences.

We once had roomates who brought two full grown cats to live with us. She became very depressed. she hid in our bedroom all of the time, ate much less and slept much more. She never got used to the other animals, and they bullied her, taking her food and chasing her away from the rest of the house. Now (two years later) she seams more aggresive towards other animals (she got outside and chased the neighbor's dog up their stairs).

I just want her to be happy. I am thinking that a younger cat may seem like less of a threat to her, and she may adjust better. However I am worried that she may hurt a kitten. I am also very worried that she may become depressed again.

I have put claw sheathes on her to minimize the damage she does to guests, however she still bites ocasionally, and her back claws are unsheathed so that she can climb onto the high points in the house. Is this situation too dangerous for a kitten?

Do you think a kitten would be good for her, keeping her company when we aren't home, or a bad idea?

Thank you very much,
Leigh  

Answer
Hello Leigh,

Many cats don't mind being alone at all and are very independent.  Maybe you should see how she handles being alone first before trying another cat.  Make sure she has plenty of toys, cat condo and a window perch to occupy her time.  Cats do sleep the majority of the day and she might not mind the solitude.

A neutered male that is submissive would probably be the best bet if you do decide to get another cat, but you should introduce them VERY SLOWLY...keep the male isolated for 2-3 weeks and only let them together for a few minutes at a time...AND make sure there are plenty of litter boxes.  I would also recommend FELIWAY pheromone spray/diffuser.   Just remember, there is a possibility that she won't like ANY OTHER CAT but you should give it a few weeks and make sure you can return the other cat if things go awry.  

GOod luck,
Dr. Fry