Grumpy old lady. Would a new kitten be a terrible idea?

[perplexedpirate]

Hi Litterati!
I could use some advice from cat knowledgable people.
We have a beautiful cat, who is about 8 years old (we think).
She came to us after her first owners (hereafter knowns as UCs, for Utter Cunts) did a flit and left her locked in their flat to starve, and DH's cousin found her. She's always been jumpy and wary of strangers, especially men. She hates any kind of upheaval, if I even do a big clean it upsets her; we assume she is reminded of the UCs leaving her.
As she's got older, I've started thinking a kitten, or a younger cat might provide company for her as DH and I work full time.
Would this be a terrible idea? If not, what would we have to do to make it a positive experience for her? I know we'd have take some holiday time off to acclimatise them both, which is fine.
She's such a gorgeous lady. I just want the best for her.

Thanks in advance.

[issey6cats]

i think given her background and her still being nervous and stressed by change in routine she wouldnt take to a kitten, cats are not naturally pack animals and are usualy quite happy to be only cats, when you have multiple cat households some work some dont, im lucky that my mob mostly get on with each other, my ginger girl hated all the other cats no open warfare but they knew their place and she was at her happiest for the couple of years that she was the only cat and she had not been ill treated before i took her on

[cozietoesie]

I'd say No with her history. She'll likely just snooze when you're not around and enjoy your company when you are.

Have a read of \link{http://www.icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy/making-your-home-cat-friendly\this} as an assist.

[perplexedpirate]

Thank you so much.
Cosie, that link is fantastic. I've already got two new ideas from it and will have a full read later.

[frillyflower]

We have a rescue cat who was very jumpy and nervous and aggressive at first. She then started licking her fur away in huge patches. She had been abused we think.

Got a kitten against advice and it worked out brilliantly. After initial intro phase, Rescue cat mothered kitten and stopped crazy fur licking.

The two of them get along fine now and keep each other company when we are at work.

Problem is you don't know if it will work unless you try.

[catameringue]

I think it's hard to tell if it will work or not.

I got a kitten after two years of living with Foul Cat.

Foul cat would bite to try and kill us, want a stroke but never accepted one, hated strangers, miaowed all night and day, shredded towels, the carpet, pretty much anything she could.

For the first two weeks I thought I'd made a terrible mistake. Foul cat was very put out. But, she mellowed and her personality changed. She's still completely insecure but very quiet, never bites and only destroys boxes now. She would never curl up with the other cats but sits near them and they play chase. She's definitely calmer.

[cozietoesie]

Just lost a whole long post so this will be short.

In my experience, singleton cats prefer it that way. And if you get another cat, you're responsible for their wellbeing and happiness as well as the original puss. They're not an extra toy that you can put in the bin if it doesn't work out.

I'd be looking to see what was wrong with original puss's life rather than just getting another one.

[perplexedpirate]

That's the worry isn't it, that it could be great, but would be disastrous if it went wrong.
I can't risk it. I'll try some tips from that link instead.