I introduced my dog (Ryuk) to my housemate's cat (Clarence) when Ryuk was about 8 months old. He had previously been in a home with a cat and after a short introduction period (about 2 weeks) they tolerated each other. Clarence is 14-15 and has raised a total of three puppies to respect cats.

More recently they've actually started interacting with each other. The cat grooms the dog, they've come up with a (very loud and often destructive to ungaurded dishes) game where Ryuk pulls his rope toy around the room and the cat chases the tassels on the end of it. They team up to get things off the counter (Cat is allowed on countertop, Ryuk gets skinned alive if he dares jump up there) or out of the closet (Ryuk opens the closet, Clarence gets onto the shelves to knock down the treats and frisbees, little stinkers). However things aren't always perfect between them. Clarence is a grouchy old man and Ryuk always wants to play.

Ryuk's most recent means of "play his roommate is what's concerning me. Clarence will be sleeping sprawled on the ground, Ryuk stalks him, then reaches out his nose or paw and pokes Clarence (usually on the leg). If Clarence doesn't immediately react by jumping up and freaking out in surprise(he can be a very deep sleeper) Ryuk turns around and sits on him....literally like an annoying sibling just plops down on top of poor Clarence. Now Ryuk's about 55lbs, and Clarence is a good sized solid cat at about 16lbs...I'm not to concerned about one hurting the other but it can't really be a good thing. It usually happens in about a split second and is either followed by Clarence grabbing Ryuk by the collar and grooming his ears or, if he's not in the mood, a good bat on the nose. If you see it about to happen a verbal correction will stop it but is this a dominance thing or it is just sibling play? Ryuk shows no aggression towards Clarence and even in play will not lay his teeth on the cat. Clarence will bite on Ryuk's ears but it's really a grooming thing only, he originally used his claws to lay boundries for Ryuk.

It sounds like they have worked out a mutually respectul, playful relationship. I'm sure Ryuk is thrilled to have a counter surfing buddy... I don't think that the sitting on the cat action is anything but "okay you fool, take THIS!" and it appears the cat is NOTR reacting in a fearful way. I think it all sounds very cute. You have good instincts; I think you will know if it ever turns a corner toward aggression, but IMHO, it doesn't sound dangerous to me. I wish Falcon and Roxie could get to this point!

 Quote: Jamie Craig

...Cat is allowed on countertop...

The cat is allowed on the countertop? Yeah, sure...

I agree with Barbara. These guys have their relationship worked out. And, with the cat often grooming the dog after being sat upon, well, that sure doesn't sound like he's in any real distress. Besides, he's perfectly capable of deciding to sleep off the floor.

leih

 Quote:

Clarence grabbing Ryuk by the collar and grooming his ears or, if he's not in the mood, a good bat on the nose. If you see it about to happen a verbal correction will stop it but is this a dominance thing or it is just sibling play? Ryuk shows no aggression towards Clarence and even in play will not lay his teeth on the cat. Clarence will bite on Ryuk's ears but it's really a grooming thing only, he originally used his claws to lay boundries for Ryuk.

My cats and dogs interact this way, same thing, cats are solitary animals and don't have the pack structure that dogs do. When the cat starts washing the dogs ears, this washing is actually one of the ways a cat will show dominance over another cat. One being a cat, the other a dog, they speak a different language when it comes to dominance. When my shepherd, Max, would sit on the cat, I would tell him off, just to remind him I was still in charge.

You'll know if things get heated, these behaviors never amounted to much in my house, can be comical, they really enjoyed each other. If the cat starts to get pissy about things, watch the claws around the eyes!