Is Little M trying to be Alpha cat?

[RubbishMantra]

Little M likes to lie next to MCat. He begins this by hassling MCat a bit, (slappy paw outstretched, crocodile mouth) then they settle down, not curled up together, but very close.

Is Little M hoping for a game, or is he just testing the waters that it's OK to sleep next to M (Alpha) Cat?

Or is Little M bullying MCat? Little M is weighty large for his breed, and currently weighs a little more than MCat, who is a cobby DSH.

You know them best. All I can say is that I've never known a cat to genuinely sleep somewhere - or next to someone - which/who they disliked.

Yy to the above - it's very unusual for a cat to share space with a cat they dislike.
I'd say it's possibly affectionate or teasing?

One of our boys follows our elderly cat everywhere (unfortunately she doesn't like him). However he also winds her up, too. If she's asleep on a chair, he'll lay next to her, Poke her a few times with an outstretched paw, then go to sleep if she doesn't react to him.

That's good to hear. A bit like an annoying little sibling then, testing the boundaries. Little M sometimes receives a firm paw to the head (like mum cat would do to her kittens) and sometimes Mcat rolls on his back and waves his paws about. He's seemed a bit depressed lately and just had his first dental.

How's his weight doing?