u/Karadoxical

I lost my last two dogs within a year of each other. After my second dog passed away about a year ago, I adopted two kittens shortly afterward. They're a little over a year old now, and while I absolutely love them and their antics, half the time they want nothing to do with me. I really miss the close bond and companionship I had with my dogs.

My male cat is pretty confident and curious, but my female is much more cautious. She tends to hide whenever something spooks her or she's around someone or something unfamiliar.

I've been thinking about adopting another dog, but I'm worried about how the cats would handle it. I would only adopt an older dog that's known to be good with cats, so I'm not particularly worried about the dog's reaction. It's the cats I'm concerned about.

I don't want to bring a dog into the house only to have my cats spend the rest of their lives hiding under the bed. I love them, and I don't want them to feel uncomfortable or unsafe in their own home.

For those of you who've introduced a dog into a household with cats, how did you do it? Is there any way to get a sense of whether your cats will eventually adjust before actually bringing a dog home? I know there's no way to guarantee it'll work out, but I'd love to hear how others have handled this, especially with cats that are naturally more timid.

For reference, I'm not currently on any meds. My doctor prescribed 25mg lamotrigine for epilepsy, starting at 1 pill a day for a week and then adding one additional pill a week for 6 weeks. So at 6 weeks, I'm taking 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening. This is a faster ramp than the FDA recommended titration (which has you at each step for 2 weeks before ramping, basically).

I'm just wondering if anyone else has done this faster ramp, and if you did, how that went for you. I'm not sure why my doctor would have me on this accelerated ramp schedule, but I'm nervous to ramp too fast. My son started on Lamotrigine and did not like the side effects at all (he's on keppra now), so I'm already a little wary of taking it and would prefer the slower route. Then again, maybe I'm just overreacting and this is a common ramp schedule.

I have been handed off to a new neuro (not the one who prescribed this), and there's quite a wait before he can get me an appointment, which is why I'm not just asking him instead. So any input about your experience ramping would be very appreciated!