diff --git a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts
index 7154701b..3a89753e 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.test.ts
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ describe('Electron IPC capabilities', () => {
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetInteractiveRegions, [
       { x: -1, y: 0, width: 20, height: 20 },
     ])).toBe(false)
+    expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow, undefined)).toBe(true)
+    expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow, {})).toBe(false)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, 'session-123')).toBe(true)
     expect(validateElectronIpcPayload(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, '../escape')).toBe(false)
   })
@@ -138,6 +140,9 @@ describe('Electron IPC capabilities', () => {
       ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsDragWindow,
     )).toBe(true)
     expect(isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession)).toBe(true)
+    expect(isElectronIpcChannelAllowedForPetWindow(
+      ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow,
+    )).toBe(true)
 
     for (const forbidden of [
       ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.commandInvoke,
diff --git a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts
index 98e07cbb..ccd542fc 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/ipc/capabilities.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ export const ELECTRON_IPC_VALIDATORS = {
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsDragWindow]: petWindowDrag,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetIgnoreMouseEvents]: booleanPayload,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetInteractiveRegions]: petInteractiveRegions,
+  [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow]: noPayload,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession]: sessionIdPayload,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.dialogOpen]: optionalRecord,
   [ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.dialogSave]: optionalRecord,
@@ -205,6 +206,7 @@ const petWindowChannels = new Set<ElectronIpcChannel>([
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsDragWindow,
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetIgnoreMouseEvents,
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetInteractiveRegions,
+  ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow,
   ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession,
 ])
 
diff --git a/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts b/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts
index 2928c356..f9c9d7c6 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/ipc/channels.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export const ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS = {
   petsDragWindow: 'desktop:pets:drag-window',
   petsSetIgnoreMouseEvents: 'desktop:pets:set-ignore-mouse-events',
   petsSetInteractiveRegions: 'desktop:pets:set-interactive-regions',
+  petsFocusMainWindow: 'desktop:pets:focus-main-window',
   petsFocusSession: 'desktop:pets:focus-session',
   dialogOpen: 'desktop:dialog:open',
   dialogSave: 'desktop:dialog:save',
diff --git a/desktop/electron/main.ts b/desktop/electron/main.ts
index fb91e387..6422c625 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/main.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/main.ts
@@ -461,6 +461,12 @@ function registerIpcHandlers() {
       payload as Electron.Rectangle[],
     )
   })
+  registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow, (event) => {
+    if (!getPetWindowController().owns(currentWindow(event))) {
+      throw new Error('Pet window IPC sender does not own the companion window')
+    }
+    showMainWindow(mainWindow, app)
+  })
   registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, (_event, payload) =>
     focusPetSession(String(payload)))
   registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.dialogOpen, (event, payload) =>
diff --git a/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts b/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts
index ffea38f6..4e4a1a0b 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/pet-preload.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ const petHost = {
       invoke<void>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetIgnoreMouseEvents, ignore),
     setInteractiveRegions: (regions: Array<{ x: number, y: number, width: number, height: number }>) =>
       invoke<void>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetInteractiveRegions, regions),
+    focusMainWindow: () => invoke<void>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow),
     focusSession: (sessionId: string) =>
       invoke<void>(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, sessionId),
   },
diff --git a/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.test.ts b/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.test.ts
index c2ba26b8..25e7e659 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.test.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,16 @@ describe('Electron pet window service', () => {
     )
   })
 
+  it('lets only the owned pet window focus the main desktop window', () => {
+    expect(mainSource).toContain(
+      'registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow, (event)',
+    )
+    expect(mainSource).toContain(
+      'if (!getPetWindowController().owns(currentWindow(event)))',
+    )
+    expect(mainSource).toContain('showMainWindow(mainWindow, app)')
+  })
+
   it('routes the native context menu through the sender-owned pet controller', () => {
     expect(mainSource).toContain(
       'registerHandler(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsShowContextMenu, (event, payload)',
@@ -289,6 +299,72 @@ describe('Electron pet window service', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it.each([
+    ['left', { x: -100, y: 220 }, { x: -136, y: 160 }],
+    ['right', { x: 1_000, y: 220 }, { x: 552, y: 160 }],
+  ] as const)(
+    'lets the mascot reach the %s display edge through transparent window padding',
+    async (_edge, pointerEnd, expectedPosition) => {
+      const petWindow = createFakeWindow({
+        x: 100,
+        y: 120,
+        width: PET_WINDOW_WIDTH,
+        height: PET_WINDOW_HEIGHT,
+      })
+      const controller = new PetWindowController({
+        createWindow: vi.fn(() => petWindow) as never,
+        getCurrentWorkArea: () => ({ x: 0, y: 25, width: 800, height: 575 }),
+        getWorkAreaForPoint: () => ({ x: 0, y: 25, width: 800, height: 575 }),
+        load: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+        platform: 'darwin',
+        preloadPath: '/app/electron-dist/preload.cjs',
+      })
+      await controller.show()
+      controller.setInteractiveRegions(petWindow as never, [
+        { x: 136, y: 240, width: 112, height: 128 },
+      ])
+
+      controller.dragWindow(petWindow as never, { phase: 'start', x: 150, y: 180 })
+      controller.dragWindow(petWindow as never, { phase: 'end', ...pointerEnd })
+
+      expect(petWindow.setPosition).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+        expectedPosition.x,
+        expectedPosition.y,
+        false,
+      )
+    },
+  )
+
+  it('restores an edge position after the renderer reports the visible mascot region', async () => {
+    let petWindow: ReturnType<typeof createFakeWindow> | undefined
+    const createWindow = vi.fn((bounds) => {
+      petWindow = createFakeWindow(bounds as {
+        x: number
+        y: number
+        width: number
+        height: number
+      })
+      return petWindow
+    })
+    const controller = new PetWindowController({
+      createWindow: createWindow as never,
+      getCurrentWorkArea: () => ({ x: 0, y: 25, width: 800, height: 575 }),
+      getWorkAreaForPoint: () => ({ x: 0, y: 25, width: 800, height: 575 }),
+      load: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      platform: 'darwin',
+      preloadPath: '/app/electron-dist/preload.cjs',
+      readPosition: () => ({ x: -136, y: 160 }),
+    })
+
+    await controller.show()
+    expect(createWindow).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ x: 0, y: 160 }))
+    controller.setInteractiveRegions(petWindow as never, [
+      { x: 136, y: 240, width: 112, height: 128 },
+    ])
+
+    expect(petWindow?.setPosition).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(-136, 160, false)
+  })
+
   it('tracks the native cursor at 60 Hz without renderer move payloads', async () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     try {
diff --git a/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.ts b/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.ts
index 7a7fc20e..fe96aae4 100644
--- a/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.ts
+++ b/desktop/electron/services/petWindow.ts
@@ -118,15 +118,31 @@ export function writePetWindowPosition(
 export function clampPetWindowPosition(
   position: PetWindowPosition,
   workArea: Rectangle,
+  visibleRegion: Rectangle = {
+    x: 0,
+    y: 0,
+    width: PET_WINDOW_WIDTH,
+    height: PET_WINDOW_HEIGHT,
+  },
 ): PetWindowPosition {
-  const maxX = workArea.x + Math.max(0, workArea.width - PET_WINDOW_WIDTH)
-  const maxY = workArea.y + Math.max(0, workArea.height - PET_WINDOW_HEIGHT)
+  const minX = workArea.x - visibleRegion.x
+  const minY = workArea.y - visibleRegion.y
+  const maxX = minX + Math.max(0, workArea.width - visibleRegion.width)
+  const maxY = minY + Math.max(0, workArea.height - visibleRegion.height)
   return {
-    x: Math.min(Math.max(Math.round(position.x), workArea.x), maxX),
-    y: Math.min(Math.max(Math.round(position.y), workArea.y), maxY),
+    x: Math.min(Math.max(Math.round(position.x), minX), maxX),
+    y: Math.min(Math.max(Math.round(position.y), minY), maxY),
   }
 }
 
+function normalizePetWindowRegion(region: Rectangle): Rectangle {
+  const x = Math.max(0, Math.min(PET_WINDOW_WIDTH - 1, Math.round(region.x)))
+  const y = Math.max(0, Math.min(PET_WINDOW_HEIGHT - 1, Math.round(region.y)))
+  const right = Math.max(x + 1, Math.min(PET_WINDOW_WIDTH, Math.round(region.x + region.width)))
+  const bottom = Math.max(y + 1, Math.min(PET_WINDOW_HEIGHT, Math.round(region.y + region.height)))
+  return { x, y, width: right - x, height: bottom - y }
+}
+
 export function getPetWindowBounds(
   workArea: Rectangle,
   restoredPosition?: PetWindowPosition | null,
@@ -221,6 +237,8 @@ export class PetWindowController {
     lastPosition: PetWindowPosition
   } | null = null
   private dragTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+  private visibleDragRegion: Rectangle | null = null
+  private pendingRestoredPosition: PetWindowPosition | null = null
   private readonly options: PetWindowControllerOptions
 
   constructor(options: PetWindowControllerOptions) {
@@ -229,6 +247,8 @@ export class PetWindowController {
 
   private async create(): Promise<PetWindow> {
     const restoredPosition = this.options.readPosition?.() ?? null
+    this.visibleDragRegion = null
+    this.pendingRestoredPosition = restoredPosition
     const currentWorkArea = restoredPosition && this.options.getWorkAreaForPoint
       ? this.options.getWorkAreaForPoint({
           x: restoredPosition.x + Math.floor(PET_WINDOW_WIDTH / 2),
@@ -243,7 +263,11 @@ export class PetWindowController {
     this.window = window
     window.on('closed', () => {
       this.finishDrag(window)
-      if (this.window === window) this.window = null
+      if (this.window === window) {
+        this.window = null
+        this.visibleDragRegion = null
+        this.pendingRestoredPosition = null
+      }
     })
 
     try {
@@ -253,7 +277,11 @@ export class PetWindowController {
       return window
     } catch (error) {
       if (!window.isDestroyed()) window.destroy()
-      if (this.window === window) this.window = null
+      if (this.window === window) {
+        this.window = null
+        this.visibleDragRegion = null
+        this.pendingRestoredPosition = null
+      }
       throw error
     }
   }
@@ -296,6 +324,8 @@ export class PetWindowController {
     }
     window.destroy()
     this.window = null
+    this.visibleDragRegion = null
+    this.pendingRestoredPosition = null
   }
 
   owns(window: PetWindow | null): boolean {
@@ -314,7 +344,30 @@ export class PetWindowController {
     if (!this.owns(window)) {
       throw new Error('Pet window IPC sender does not own the companion window')
     }
-    if ((this.options.platform ?? process.platform) === 'darwin') return
+    const platform = this.options.platform ?? process.platform
+    const primaryRegion = regions[0]
+    if (platform === 'darwin' && primaryRegion) {
+      this.visibleDragRegion = normalizePetWindowRegion(primaryRegion)
+      const requestedPosition = this.pendingRestoredPosition ?? window.getBounds()
+      this.pendingRestoredPosition = null
+      const anchor = {
+        x: requestedPosition.x + this.visibleDragRegion.x + Math.floor(this.visibleDragRegion.width / 2),
+        y: requestedPosition.y + this.visibleDragRegion.y + Math.floor(this.visibleDragRegion.height / 2),
+      }
+      const workArea = this.options.getWorkAreaForPoint?.(anchor)
+        ?? this.options.getCurrentWorkArea()
+      const nextPosition = clampPetWindowPosition(
+        requestedPosition,
+        workArea,
+        this.visibleDragRegion,
+      )
+      const bounds = window.getBounds()
+      if (nextPosition.x !== bounds.x || nextPosition.y !== bounds.y) {
+        window.setPosition(nextPosition.x, nextPosition.y, false)
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (platform === 'darwin') return
 
     const shape = regions.flatMap((region) => {
       const requestedLeft = Math.round(region.x) - PET_WINDOW_SHAPE_PADDING
@@ -400,7 +453,11 @@ export class PetWindowController {
     }
     const workArea = this.options.getWorkAreaForPoint?.(pointer)
       ?? this.options.getCurrentWorkArea()
-    const nextPosition = clampPetWindowPosition(requestedPosition, workArea)
+    const nextPosition = clampPetWindowPosition(
+      requestedPosition,
+      workArea,
+      this.visibleDragRegion ?? undefined,
+    )
     if (
       nextPosition.x === drag.lastPosition.x
       && nextPosition.y === drag.lastPosition.y
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.test.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.test.tsx
index 56b64915..9c3ae68b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.test.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   updatePetPreferences: vi.fn(),
   initializeDesktopServerUrl: vi.fn(),
   focusSession: vi.fn(),
+  focusMainWindow: vi.fn(),
   hidePet: vi.fn(),
   showContextMenu: vi.fn(),
   dragWindow: vi.fn(),
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ vi.mock('../../lib/desktopHost', () => ({
     pets: {
       list: vi.fn(async () => ({ pets: [], errors: [] })),
       focusSession: mocks.focusSession,
+      focusMainWindow: mocks.focusMainWindow,
       hide: mocks.hidePet,
       showContextMenu: mocks.showContextMenu,
       dragWindow: mocks.dragWindow,
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@ describe('PetApp', () => {
     mocks.fetchSessions.mockResolvedValue(undefined)
     mocks.showContextMenu.mockResolvedValue(true)
     mocks.dragWindow.mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    mocks.focusMainWindow.mockResolvedValue(undefined)
     mocks.getChatStatus.mockImplementation(async (sessionId: string) => ({
       state: sessionId === 'session-running' ? 'thinking' : 'idle',
       activityState: sessionId === 'session-running' ? 'running' : 'idle',
@@ -304,7 +307,7 @@ describe('PetApp', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  it('keeps a short mascot pointer gesture as a normal pet interaction', async () => {
+  it('focuses the main desktop window after a short mascot pointer gesture', async () => {
     render(<PetApp />)
     const mascot = await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'pet.window.interact' })
     mascot.setPointerCapture = vi.fn()
@@ -335,6 +338,7 @@ describe('PetApp', () => {
     fireEvent.click(mascot)
 
     expect(mocks.dragWindow).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mocks.focusMainWindow).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(mocks.updatePetPreferences).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith({ collapsed: true })
     expect(mascot.querySelector('[data-pet-state="waving"]')).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(mascot.setPointerCapture).toHaveBeenCalledWith(7)
@@ -388,6 +392,7 @@ describe('PetApp', () => {
       [{ phase: 'end', x: 530, y: 440 }],
     ]))
     expect(mascot).toHaveAttribute('data-dragging', 'false')
+    expect(mocks.focusMainWindow).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(mocks.updatePetPreferences).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith({ collapsed: true })
     expect(mascot.setPointerCapture).toHaveBeenCalledWith(9)
     expect(mascot.releasePointerCapture).toHaveBeenCalledWith(9)
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.tsx
index ee0c5872..d52854bc 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetApp.tsx
@@ -494,6 +494,7 @@ export function PetApp() {
                 }
                 return
               }
+              void getDesktopHost().pets.focusMainWindow().catch(() => undefined)
               playTransient('waving')
             }}
             onContextMenu={(event) => {
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.test.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.test.tsx
index 48c3464a..6c1f518c 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.test.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.test.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { Profiler } from 'react'
 import { act, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
 import '@testing-library/jest-dom'
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
@@ -130,6 +131,23 @@ describe('PetRenderer', () => {
     expect(document.querySelector('[data-pet-frame-transition="previous"]')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
+  it('updates atlas frames without committing a React render for every frame', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const commits: string[] = []
+    render(
+      <Profiler id="pet" onRender={(_id, phase) => commits.push(phase)}>
+        <PetRenderer pet={customPet} state="waving" size={96} motionEnabled />
+      </Profiler>,
+    )
+
+    const pet = screen.getByRole('img', { name: 'Mochi' })
+    expect(commits).toHaveLength(1)
+    act(() => vi.advanceTimersByTime(140))
+
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-column', '1')
+    expect(commits).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+
   it('changes rows immediately when the requested state changes', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     const { rerender } = render(
@@ -144,7 +162,7 @@ describe('PetRenderer', () => {
     expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-column', '0')
   })
 
-  it('plays an active row three times, then remains in the slow idle loop', () => {
+  it('plays an active row three times, rests, then starts another work burst', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     render(<PetRenderer pet={builtinPet} state="running" size={96} motionEnabled />)
 
@@ -159,8 +177,25 @@ describe('PetRenderer', () => {
     expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-column', '0')
 
     advanceTimersByDurations([1680, 660, 660, 840, 840, 1920])
-    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-motion-state', 'idle')
-    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-row', '0')
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-motion-state', 'running')
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-row', '7')
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-column', '0')
+  })
+
+  it('adds a calm gesture after two slow idle loops', () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    render(<PetRenderer pet={builtinPet} state="idle" size={96} motionEnabled />)
+
+    const pet = screen.getByRole('img', { name: 'Dada' })
+    advanceTimersByDurations([
+      1680, 660, 660, 840, 840, 1920,
+      1680, 660, 660, 840, 840, 1920,
+    ])
+
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-state', 'idle')
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-motion-state', 'waving')
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-motion-phase', 'action')
+    expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-row', '3')
     expect(pet).toHaveAttribute('data-pet-column', '0')
   })
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.tsx b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.tsx
index d9a8dcff..e9ed583f 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pets/PetRenderer.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useState, type CSSProperties } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useRef, useState, type CSSProperties } from 'react'
 import {
   PET_ATLAS_V2,
   getPetAnimationPlaybackStep,
@@ -67,79 +67,6 @@ function usePrefersReducedMotion() {
   return prefersReducedMotion
 }
 
-type PetPlayback = Readonly<{
-  renderedState: PetAnimationState
-  playbackIndex: number
-}>
-
-function usePetPlayback(
-  requestedState: PetAnimationState,
-  motionEnabled: boolean,
-  lookDirection: PetLookDirection | null | undefined,
-) {
-  const [playback, setPlayback] = useState<PetPlayback>(() => ({
-    renderedState: requestedState,
-    playbackIndex: 0,
-  }))
-
-  useLayoutEffect(() => {
-    if (!motionEnabled) {
-      setPlayback((current) => current.renderedState === requestedState && current.playbackIndex === 0
-        ? current
-        : { renderedState: requestedState, playbackIndex: 0 })
-      return
-    }
-
-    if (requestedState === 'idle' && lookDirection !== undefined) {
-      setPlayback((current) => current.renderedState === requestedState && current.playbackIndex === 0
-        ? current
-        : { renderedState: requestedState, playbackIndex: 0 })
-      return
-    }
-
-    const startedAt = performance.now()
-    let cancelled = false
-    let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
-    const updateFrame = () => {
-      if (cancelled) return
-      const tick = getPetAnimationPlaybackTickAtElapsedMs(
-        requestedState,
-        Math.max(0, performance.now() - startedAt),
-      )
-      setPlayback((current) => (
-        current.renderedState === requestedState
-        && current.playbackIndex === tick.playbackIndex
-      ) ? current : {
-        renderedState: requestedState,
-        playbackIndex: tick.playbackIndex,
-      })
-      timer = setTimeout(updateFrame, Math.max(1, Math.ceil(tick.remainingDurationMs)))
-    }
-
-    updateFrame()
-    return () => {
-      cancelled = true
-      if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
-    }
-  }, [lookDirection, motionEnabled, requestedState])
-
-  const renderedState = motionEnabled ? playback.renderedState : requestedState
-  const playbackIndex = motionEnabled ? playback.playbackIndex : 0
-  const step = getPetAnimationPlaybackStep(renderedState, playbackIndex)
-  const showingCursorPose = motionEnabled
-    && renderedState === 'idle'
-    && requestedState === 'idle'
-    && lookDirection !== undefined
-  const frame = showingCursorPose ? getPetLookFrame(lookDirection) : step.frame
-
-  return {
-    frame,
-    renderedState,
-    motionState: step.phase === 'action' ? renderedState : 'idle',
-    phase: showingCursorPose ? 'gaze' : step.phase,
-  }
-}
-
 type AtlasVisual = Readonly<{
   atlasUrl: string
   frame: PetAtlasFrame
@@ -202,11 +129,121 @@ function getAtlasBackgroundStyle({
     backgroundImage: `url(${JSON.stringify(atlasUrl)})`,
     backgroundRepeat: 'no-repeat',
     backgroundSize: `${size * PET_ATLAS_V2.columns}px ${height * PET_ATLAS_V2.rows}px`,
-    backgroundPosition: `${-frame.columnIndex * size + offsetX}px ${-frame.rowIndex * height + offsetY}px`,
+    backgroundPosition: getAtlasBackgroundPosition(frame, offsetX, offsetY, size, height),
     imageRendering: pixelated ? 'pixelated' : 'auto',
   }
 }
 
+function getAtlasBackgroundPosition(
+  frame: PetAtlasFrame,
+  offsetX: number,
+  offsetY: number,
+  size: number,
+  height: number,
+) {
+  return `${-frame.columnIndex * size + offsetX}px ${-frame.rowIndex * height + offsetY}px`
+}
+
+type PetPlaybackVisual = Readonly<{
+  frame: PetAtlasFrame
+  motionState: PetAnimationState
+  phase: 'action' | 'idle' | 'gaze'
+}>
+
+function getInitialPetPlaybackVisual(
+  requestedState: PetAnimationState,
+  motionEnabled: boolean,
+  lookDirection: PetLookDirection | null | undefined,
+): PetPlaybackVisual {
+  if (motionEnabled && requestedState === 'idle' && lookDirection !== undefined) {
+    return {
+      frame: getPetLookFrame(lookDirection),
+      motionState: 'idle',
+      phase: 'gaze',
+    }
+  }
+
+  const step = getPetAnimationPlaybackStep(requestedState, 0)
+  return {
+    frame: step.frame,
+    motionState: step.motionState,
+    phase: step.phase,
+  }
+}
+
+function usePetPlayback({
+  requestedState,
+  motionEnabled,
+  lookDirection,
+  usesAtlas,
+  petId,
+  size,
+  height,
+  spriteRef,
+  stageRef,
+}: {
+  requestedState: PetAnimationState
+  motionEnabled: boolean
+  lookDirection: PetLookDirection | null | undefined
+  usesAtlas: boolean
+  petId: string
+  size: number
+  height: number
+  spriteRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>
+  stageRef: React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>
+}) {
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    const sprite = spriteRef.current
+    const stage = stageRef.current
+    if (!sprite || !stage) return
+
+    const applyVisual = ({ frame, motionState, phase }: PetPlaybackVisual) => {
+      sprite.dataset.petMotionState = motionState
+      sprite.dataset.petMotionPhase = phase
+      stage.dataset.petMotionState = motionState
+      if (!usesAtlas) return
+
+      const { offsetX, offsetY } = getPetFrameOffset(petId, frame, size, height)
+      sprite.dataset.petRow = String(frame.rowIndex)
+      sprite.dataset.petColumn = String(frame.columnIndex)
+      sprite.style.backgroundPosition = getAtlasBackgroundPosition(
+        frame,
+        offsetX,
+        offsetY,
+        size,
+        height,
+      )
+    }
+
+    const initialVisual = getInitialPetPlaybackVisual(requestedState, motionEnabled, lookDirection)
+    applyVisual(initialVisual)
+    if (!motionEnabled || (requestedState === 'idle' && lookDirection !== undefined)) return
+
+    const startedAt = performance.now()
+    let cancelled = false
+    let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+    const updateFrame = () => {
+      if (cancelled) return
+      const tick = getPetAnimationPlaybackTickAtElapsedMs(
+        requestedState,
+        Math.max(0, performance.now() - startedAt),
+      )
+      applyVisual({
+        frame: tick.frame,
+        motionState: tick.motionState,
+        phase: tick.phase,
+      })
+      timer = setTimeout(updateFrame, Math.max(1, Math.ceil(tick.remainingDurationMs)))
+    }
+
+    updateFrame()
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true
+      if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+    }
+  }, [height, lookDirection, motionEnabled, petId, requestedState, size, spriteRef, stageRef, usesAtlas])
+}
+
 export function PetRenderer({
   pet,
   state,
@@ -219,12 +256,25 @@ export function PetRenderer({
   const effectiveMotionEnabled = motionEnabled && !prefersReducedMotion
   const atlasUrl = pet.source === 'custom' ? pet.dataUrl : pet.spritesheetUrl
   const usesAtlas = Number(pet.spriteVersionNumber) >= PET_ATLAS_V2.spriteVersionNumber
-  const playback = usePetPlayback(
+  const height = size * PET_ATLAS_V2.cellHeight / PET_ATLAS_V2.cellWidth
+  const spriteRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const stageRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const playback = getInitialPetPlaybackVisual(
     state,
     effectiveMotionEnabled,
     lookDirection,
   )
-  const height = size * PET_ATLAS_V2.cellHeight / PET_ATLAS_V2.cellWidth
+  usePetPlayback({
+    requestedState: state,
+    motionEnabled: effectiveMotionEnabled,
+    lookDirection,
+    usesAtlas,
+    petId: pet.id,
+    size,
+    height,
+    spriteRef,
+    stageRef,
+  })
   const pixelated = pet.source === 'custom' && usesAtlas
   const frameOffset = getPetFrameOffset(pet.id, playback.frame, size, height)
   const currentVisual = {
@@ -248,18 +298,20 @@ export function PetRenderer({
 
   return (
     <div
+      ref={stageRef}
       className={`pet-sprite-stage shrink-0 ${usesAtlas ? 'pet-sprite-stage--atlas' : 'pet-sprite-stage--single'} ${className}`}
       data-pet-motion={effectiveMotionEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}
       data-pet-motion-state={playback.motionState}
       style={{ width: size, height }}
     >
       <div
+        ref={spriteRef}
         role="img"
         aria-label={pet.displayName}
         className="pet-sprite"
         data-pet-source={pet.source}
         data-pet-state={state}
-        data-pet-rendered-state={playback.renderedState}
+        data-pet-rendered-state={state}
         data-pet-motion-state={playback.motionState}
         data-pet-motion-phase={playback.phase}
         data-pet-motion={effectiveMotionEnabled ? 'enabled' : 'disabled'}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.test.ts b/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.test.ts
index 37f2fe92..6da7e97a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.test.ts
@@ -98,18 +98,28 @@ describe('pet animation atlas contract', () => {
     expect(() => getPetAnimationFrameAtElapsedMs('idle', -1)).toThrow(RangeError)
   })
 
-  it('plays the recorded Codex idle row as one continuous six-times-slower loop', () => {
+  it('keeps the recorded Codex idle timing and inserts low-frequency ambient gestures', () => {
     const playback = getPetAnimationPlaybackFrames('idle')
 
     expect(PET_IDLE_DURATION_MULTIPLIER).toBe(6)
-    expect(playback).toHaveLength(6)
-    expect(playback.map((frame) => frame.columnIndex)).toEqual([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
-    expect(playback.map((frame) => frame.durationMs)).toEqual([1680, 660, 660, 840, 840, 1920])
+    expect(playback.slice(0, 12).map((frame) => frame.columnIndex)).toEqual([
+      0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
+      0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
+    ])
+    expect(playback.slice(0, 6).map((frame) => frame.durationMs)).toEqual([
+      1680, 660, 660, 840, 840, 1920,
+    ])
+    expect(playback[12]).toMatchObject({
+      rowIndex: 3,
+      columnIndex: 0,
+      durationMs: 140,
+    })
+    expect(getPetAnimationPlaybackFrames('idle')).toBe(playback)
     expect(getPetAnimationPlaybackLoopStartIndex('idle')).toBe(0)
-    expect(getNextPetAnimationPlaybackIndex('idle', 5)).toBe(0)
+    expect(getNextPetAnimationPlaybackIndex('idle', playback.length - 1)).toBe(0)
   })
 
-  it('plays three active cycles once, then loops only the slow idle tail', () => {
+  it('repeats three active cycles after each slow idle recovery loop', () => {
     const runningFrames = getPetAnimationFrames('running')
     const playback = getPetAnimationPlaybackFrames('running')
     const loopStartIndex = runningFrames.length * 3
@@ -122,8 +132,8 @@ describe('pet animation atlas contract', () => {
       columnIndex: 0,
       durationMs: 1680,
     })
-    expect(getPetAnimationPlaybackLoopStartIndex('running')).toBe(loopStartIndex)
-    expect(getNextPetAnimationPlaybackIndex('running', playback.length - 1)).toBe(loopStartIndex)
+    expect(getPetAnimationPlaybackLoopStartIndex('running')).toBe(0)
+    expect(getNextPetAnimationPlaybackIndex('running', playback.length - 1)).toBe(0)
     expect(getPetAnimationPlaybackStep('running', runningFrames.length - 1)).toMatchObject({
       phase: 'action',
       cycleBoundaryAfter: true,
@@ -154,9 +164,9 @@ describe('pet animation atlas contract', () => {
       remainingDurationMs: 1680,
     })
     expect(getPetAnimationPlaybackTickAtElapsedMs('running', idleTailStartMs + 6_600)).toMatchObject({
-      playbackIndex: 18,
-      phase: 'idle',
-      remainingDurationMs: 1680,
+      playbackIndex: 0,
+      phase: 'action',
+      remainingDurationMs: 120,
     })
     expect(() => getPetAnimationPlaybackTickAtElapsedMs('idle', -1)).toThrow(RangeError)
   })
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.ts b/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.ts
index 087268f7..14717cd9 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/pets/petAnimation.ts
@@ -57,12 +57,21 @@ export type PetAnimationFrame = PetAtlasFrame & Readonly<{
 
 export const PET_ACTIVE_BURST_LOOPS = 3
 export const PET_IDLE_DURATION_MULTIPLIER = 6
+export const PET_AMBIENT_IDLE_LOOPS = 2
+export const PET_AMBIENT_GESTURE_LOOPS = 2
 
 export type PetAnimationPlaybackPhase = 'action' | 'idle'
 
 export type PetAnimationPlaybackStep = Readonly<{
   frame: PetAnimationFrame
   phase: PetAnimationPlaybackPhase
+  motionState: PetAnimationState
+  cycleBoundaryAfter: boolean
+}>
+
+type PetAnimationPlaybackFrame = PetAnimationFrame & Readonly<{
+  phase: PetAnimationPlaybackPhase
+  motionState: PetAnimationState
   cycleBoundaryAfter: boolean
 }>
 
@@ -99,24 +108,53 @@ export function getPetAnimationFrames(state: PetAnimationState): readonly PetAni
   }))
 }
 
-export function getPetAnimationPlaybackFrames(state: PetAnimationState): readonly PetAnimationFrame[] {
+function getRepeatedPetAnimationFrames(
+  state: PetAnimationState,
+  loops: number,
+  phase: PetAnimationPlaybackPhase,
+  durationMultiplier = 1,
+): readonly PetAnimationPlaybackFrame[] {
   const frames = getPetAnimationFrames(state)
-  const idleSequence = getPetAnimationFrames('idle').map((frame) => ({
+  return Array.from({ length: loops }, () => frames.map((frame) => ({
     ...frame,
-    durationMs: frame.durationMs * PET_IDLE_DURATION_MULTIPLIER,
-  }))
-  if (state === 'idle') return idleSequence
-
-  return [
-    ...Array.from({ length: PET_ACTIVE_BURST_LOOPS }, () => frames).flat(),
-    ...idleSequence,
-  ]
+    durationMs: frame.durationMs * durationMultiplier,
+    phase,
+    motionState: state,
+    cycleBoundaryAfter: frame.frameIndex === frames.length - 1,
+  }))).flat()
 }
 
-export function getPetAnimationPlaybackLoopStartIndex(state: PetAnimationState): number {
-  return state === 'idle'
-    ? 0
-    : getPetAnimationFrames(state).length * PET_ACTIVE_BURST_LOOPS
+const petAnimationPlaybackCache = new Map<PetAnimationState, readonly PetAnimationPlaybackFrame[]>()
+
+export function getPetAnimationPlaybackFrames(state: PetAnimationState): readonly PetAnimationPlaybackFrame[] {
+  const cached = petAnimationPlaybackCache.get(state)
+  if (cached) return cached
+
+  const slowIdle = () => getRepeatedPetAnimationFrames(
+    'idle',
+    1,
+    'idle',
+    PET_IDLE_DURATION_MULTIPLIER,
+  )
+
+  const playback = state === 'idle'
+    ? [
+      ...Array.from({ length: PET_AMBIENT_IDLE_LOOPS }, slowIdle).flat(),
+      ...getRepeatedPetAnimationFrames('waving', PET_AMBIENT_GESTURE_LOOPS, 'action'),
+      ...Array.from({ length: PET_AMBIENT_IDLE_LOOPS }, slowIdle).flat(),
+      ...getRepeatedPetAnimationFrames('jumping', PET_AMBIENT_GESTURE_LOOPS, 'action'),
+    ]
+    : [
+      ...getRepeatedPetAnimationFrames(state, PET_ACTIVE_BURST_LOOPS, 'action'),
+      ...slowIdle(),
+    ]
+
+  petAnimationPlaybackCache.set(state, playback)
+  return playback
+}
+
+export function getPetAnimationPlaybackLoopStartIndex(_state: PetAnimationState): number {
+  return 0
 }
 
 export function getNextPetAnimationPlaybackIndex(
@@ -144,22 +182,12 @@ export function getPetAnimationPlaybackStep(
 
   const playback = getPetAnimationPlaybackFrames(state)
   const normalizedIndex = playbackIndex % playback.length
-  const actionFrameCount = getPetAnimationPlaybackLoopStartIndex(state)
-
-  if (normalizedIndex < actionFrameCount) {
-    const actionCycleLength = getPetAnimationFrames(state).length
-    return {
-      frame: playback[normalizedIndex]!,
-      phase: 'action',
-      cycleBoundaryAfter: (normalizedIndex + 1) % actionCycleLength === 0,
-    }
-  }
-
-  const idleIndex = normalizedIndex - actionFrameCount
+  const frame = playback[normalizedIndex]!
   return {
-    frame: playback[normalizedIndex]!,
-    phase: 'idle',
-    cycleBoundaryAfter: idleIndex === getPetAnimationFrames('idle').length - 1,
+    frame,
+    phase: frame.phase,
+    motionState: frame.motionState,
+    cycleBoundaryAfter: frame.cycleBoundaryAfter,
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts
index 305cacd7..d348ca3e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/browserHost.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ export const browserHost: DesktopHost = {
     async setInteractiveRegions() {
       unsupported('Changing companion pet interaction regions')
     },
+    async focusMainWindow() {
+      unsupported('Focusing the main desktop window')
+    },
     async focusSession() {
       unsupported('Focusing a pet session')
     },
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts
index 02c5b9b0..c517c59a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/contract.test.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ describe('desktop host contract', () => {
     await expect(browserHost.pets.dragWindow({ phase: 'start', x: 100, y: 100 })).rejects.toThrow('desktop app runtime')
     await expect(browserHost.pets.setIgnoreMouseEvents(true)).rejects.toThrow('desktop app runtime')
     await expect(browserHost.pets.setInteractiveRegions([{ x: 0, y: 0, width: 10, height: 10 }])).rejects.toThrow('desktop app runtime')
+    await expect(browserHost.pets.focusMainWindow()).rejects.toThrow('desktop app runtime')
     await expect(browserHost.pets.focusSession('session-1')).rejects.toThrow('desktop app runtime')
     await expect(browserHost.pets.onNavigateSession(vi.fn())).resolves.toEqual(expect.any(Function))
   })
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts
index d8972a70..5be436c5 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.test.ts
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ describe('electron desktop host', () => {
     await host.pets.dragWindow({ phase: 'move', x: 640, y: 480 })
     await host.pets.setIgnoreMouseEvents(true)
     await host.pets.setInteractiveRegions([{ x: 100, y: 200, width: 120, height: 140 }])
+    await host.pets.focusMainWindow()
     await host.pets.focusSession('session-123')
     await host.pets.onNavigateSession(handler)
     await host.pets.onVisibilityChanged(handler)
@@ -177,7 +178,8 @@ describe('electron desktop host', () => {
     expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(10, ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetInteractiveRegions, [
       { x: 100, y: 200, width: 120, height: 140 },
     ])
-    expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(11, ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, 'session-123')
+    expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(11, ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow, undefined)
+    expect(invoke).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(12, ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, 'session-123')
     expect(subscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.petNavigateSession, handler)
     expect(subscribe).toHaveBeenCalledWith(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.petVisibilityChanged, handler)
   })
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts
index fa8ecea2..a9a28d94 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/electronHost.ts
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ export function createElectronHost(bridge: ElectronHostBridge): DesktopHost {
       dragWindow: payload => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsDragWindow, payload),
       setIgnoreMouseEvents: ignore => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetIgnoreMouseEvents, ignore),
       setInteractiveRegions: regions => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsSetInteractiveRegions, regions),
+      focusMainWindow: () => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusMainWindow),
       focusSession: sessionId => invoke(ELECTRON_IPC_CHANNELS.petsFocusSession, sessionId),
       onNavigateSession: handler => subscribe(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.petNavigateSession, handler),
       onVisibilityChanged: handler => subscribe(ELECTRON_EVENT_CHANNELS.petVisibilityChanged, handler),
diff --git a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts
index 4c236e5a..cc50641e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/lib/desktopHost/types.ts
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ export type DesktopHost = {
     dragWindow(payload: DesktopPetWindowDrag): Promise<void>
     setIgnoreMouseEvents(ignore: boolean): Promise<void>
     setInteractiveRegions(regions: DesktopPetInteractiveRegion[]): Promise<void>
+    focusMainWindow(): Promise<void>
     focusSession(sessionId: string): Promise<void>
     onNavigateSession(handler: (sessionId: string) => void): Promise<DesktopHostUnlisten>
     onVisibilityChanged(handler: (visible: boolean) => void): Promise<DesktopHostUnlisten>