C++ :: Cloning Object - Store Pointers Instead Of References?

Is there a point in dynamically creating a pointer during runtime only to dereference it? (if that is the right term, as in *pointer, depoint it?)

In this case should I perhaps store pointers instead of references?

Inventory.cpp

Code:
bool Inventory::addItem(InventoryItem& item) {
addItemAmount(item);
if (item.getAmount() > 0) {
if (hasEmptySlot()) {
addNewItem(*item.clone());
return true;

[Code] ....

Also I was wondering, is there some sort of built-in cloning functionality or do I have to write the clone functions myself? When creating new instances I see that I can either pass the constructor properties or a reference to an object of the same type.

For instance:

Code:
new InventoryItem(index, name....);
new InventoryItem(const InventoryItem&);

Is the second one casting?