We got Dixie a cat as a companion when she was suffering from seperation anxiety before she had puppies. They became best friends and slept together, played together and groomed each other. Now that Dusty is in the picture, Marty (the cat) and Dusty are buds. They play for hours and like you, I was nervous at first because Dusty actually puts Marties whole head in his mouth. But he is gentle and they are playing. If Marty was in distress he could go down the cat hole in our basement door but he never does. Dixie and Marty still groom each other but it is Marty and Dusty who are playmates now. LOL