Need advice about cat/senile dog interaction

JC's best buddy, our next-door neighbors' greyhound, came for a visit today. The two are really close friends, but.... Aki is twelve, at least (he's a rescue from Spain, so we're not exactly sure), and increasingly showing signs of senility. He has jumped out of windows, sleeps in the kitchen sink (or at least tries to), and forgets his housebreaking at times. I haven't seen any signs of aggression, but today I was wondering if I should let them play together. They were playing chase - JC was chasing Aki, as usual, and it was hysterical: talk about role reversal - and I suddenly had this picture of Aki turning on Jamie. I hate the idea of breaking up a beautiful relationship, but I'm wondering if just monitoring them closely is enough. JC is five, big (over 13 lbs.), very quick and agile, and his claws and teeth are intact. Aki is showing signs of advanced age, including arthritis, prostate problems, cataracts, and missing teeth. But he's still 7 or 8 times Jamie's size. I think JC could hold his own against him, but I'm just not sure. I know JC is going to be heartbroken when Aki dies, so I don't want to steal precious moments from them. They've had a really close relationship ever since JC was 10 weeks old. Does anybody here have any experience with such a relationship?

It's ok to let them play together, just watch them. It's good for Aki to have a friend who so obviously loves him to play with. You could say that JC is like his "pet therapist". Just like people who are senile, animals who are senile need something like that to keep them going.

LOL Tricia, I would worry the opposite way, that JC might be too rambuctious for this wonderful old dog. Really, though, I think their interaction is fine.

Thanks for the reassurances - I guess my concern about Aki's deteriorating condition just got to me today. He's such a love, and I laughed at his insistence on coming in today to play with Jamie. After they exhausted themselves running around the house, we took them out in the backyard. Aki naturally went along the perimeter, lifting his leg, and I had to march around behind him with JC on his leash. He made a very valiant attempt to mark the same shrubs, but his bladder just doesn't have the volume of a greyhound's. It was really cute.