diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx
index 4175427150dc1..67872c6a47997 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/pet/floating-pet.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ import {
   $petRoam,
   $petRoamDir,
   clearPetUnread,
+  hasPetSpriteForMeta,
+  mergePetInfoMeta,
   type PetInfo,
+  type PetInfoMeta,
   petProfile,
   setPetInfo
 } from '@/store/pet'
@@ -39,25 +42,6 @@ interface Point {
   y: number
 }
 
-interface PetInfoMeta {
-  enabled: boolean
-  slug?: string
-  displayName?: string
-  scale?: number
-  spritesheetRevision?: string
-}
-
-function samePetRevision(info: PetInfo, meta: PetInfoMeta): boolean {
-  return (
-    info.enabled &&
-    Boolean(info.spritesheetBase64) &&
-    info.slug === meta.slug &&
-    info.displayName === meta.displayName &&
-    info.scale === meta.scale &&
-    info.spritesheetRevision === meta.spritesheetRevision
-  )
-}
-
 // Keep a w×h box fully inside the viewport. Pre-pet-load callers pass a nominal
 // size; the live size flows in once `info` arrives.
 function clampPoint(x: number, y: number, w: number, h: number): Point {
@@ -184,7 +168,11 @@ export function FloatingPet() {
               return
             }
 
-            if (samePetRevision($petInfo.get(), meta)) {
+            const current = $petInfo.get()
+
+            if (hasPetSpriteForMeta(current, meta)) {
+              setPetInfo(mergePetInfoMeta(current, meta))
+
               return
             }
           } catch {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..08243270e79f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+import { $petInfo, setPetInfo } from './pet'
+import { $petGallery, adoptPet, loadPetGallery, resetPetGallery, type GatewayRequest } from './pet-gallery'
+
+function localGallery() {
+  return {
+    enabled: true,
+    active: 'boba',
+    pets: [{ slug: 'boba', displayName: 'Boba', installed: true }]
+  }
+}
+
+describe('pet gallery pet.info sync', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    resetPetGallery()
+    setPetInfo({ enabled: false })
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    resetPetGallery()
+    setPetInfo({ enabled: false })
+    vi.restoreAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  it('uses pet.info.meta and keeps the cached spritesheet when the revision is current', async () => {
+    setPetInfo({
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Old Boba',
+      scale: 0.33,
+      spritesheetBase64: 'large-sprite-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048',
+      frameW: 192,
+      frameH: 208
+    })
+
+    const requestMock = vi.fn(async (method: string) => {
+      if (method === 'pet.gallery') {
+        return localGallery()
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info.meta') {
+        return {
+          enabled: true,
+          slug: 'boba',
+          displayName: 'Boba',
+          scale: 0.5,
+          spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info') {
+        throw new Error('full pet.info should not be called for an unchanged sprite')
+      }
+
+      throw new Error(`unexpected method: ${method}`)
+    })
+    const request = requestMock as unknown as GatewayRequest
+
+    await loadPetGallery(request)
+
+    const methods = requestMock.mock.calls.map(([method]) => method)
+    expect(methods).toContain('pet.info.meta')
+    expect(methods).not.toContain('pet.info')
+    expect($petInfo.get()).toMatchObject({
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Boba',
+      scale: 0.5,
+      spritesheetBase64: 'large-sprite-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048',
+      frameW: 192,
+      frameH: 208
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('fetches full pet.info when metadata reports a new spritesheet revision', async () => {
+    setPetInfo({
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Boba',
+      scale: 0.33,
+      spritesheetBase64: 'old-sprite-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+    })
+
+    const requestMock = vi.fn(async (method: string) => {
+      if (method === 'pet.gallery') {
+        return localGallery()
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info.meta') {
+        return {
+          enabled: true,
+          slug: 'boba',
+          displayName: 'Boba',
+          scale: 0.33,
+          spritesheetRevision: '101:4096'
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info') {
+        return {
+          enabled: true,
+          slug: 'boba',
+          displayName: 'Boba',
+          scale: 0.33,
+          spritesheetBase64: 'new-sprite-payload',
+          spritesheetRevision: '101:4096'
+        }
+      }
+
+      throw new Error(`unexpected method: ${method}`)
+    })
+    const request = requestMock as unknown as GatewayRequest
+
+    await loadPetGallery(request)
+
+    const methods = requestMock.mock.calls.map(([method]) => method)
+    expect(methods).toContain('pet.info.meta')
+    expect(methods).toContain('pet.info')
+    expect($petInfo.get().spritesheetBase64).toBe('new-sprite-payload')
+    expect($petInfo.get().spritesheetRevision).toBe('101:4096')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to full pet.info when an older gateway lacks metadata', async () => {
+    const requestMock = vi.fn(async (method: string) => {
+      if (method === 'pet.gallery') {
+        return localGallery()
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info.meta') {
+        throw new Error('JSON-RPC -32601: Method not found')
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info') {
+        return {
+          enabled: true,
+          slug: 'boba',
+          displayName: 'Boba from legacy gateway',
+          scale: 0.4,
+          spritesheetBase64: 'legacy-full-payload',
+          spritesheetRevision: '99:1024'
+        }
+      }
+
+      throw new Error(`unexpected method: ${method}`)
+    })
+    const request = requestMock as unknown as GatewayRequest
+
+    await loadPetGallery(request)
+
+    const methods = requestMock.mock.calls.map(([method]) => method)
+    expect(methods).toContain('pet.info.meta')
+    expect(methods).toContain('pet.info')
+    expect($petInfo.get()).toMatchObject({
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Boba from legacy gateway',
+      spritesheetBase64: 'legacy-full-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '99:1024'
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('keeps mutation sync on metadata when the selected pet sprite is unchanged', async () => {
+    $petGallery.set(localGallery())
+    setPetInfo({
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Boba',
+      scale: 0.33,
+      spritesheetBase64: 'large-sprite-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+    })
+
+    const requestMock = vi.fn(async (method: string) => {
+      if (method === 'pet.select') {
+        return { ok: true, slug: 'boba', displayName: 'Boba' }
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info.meta') {
+        return {
+          enabled: true,
+          slug: 'boba',
+          displayName: 'Boba',
+          scale: 0.33,
+          spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (method === 'pet.info') {
+        throw new Error('full pet.info should not be called after an unchanged select')
+      }
+
+      throw new Error(`unexpected method: ${method}`)
+    })
+    const request = requestMock as unknown as GatewayRequest
+
+    await expect(adoptPet(request, 'boba', 'Could not adopt pet.')).resolves.toBe(true)
+
+    const methods = requestMock.mock.calls.map(([method]) => method)
+    expect(methods).toEqual(['pet.select', 'pet.info.meta'])
+    expect($petInfo.get().spritesheetBase64).toBe('large-sprite-payload')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.ts
index 40cb420e95b43..01b555b90c597 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet-gallery.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,15 @@
 import { atom } from 'nanostores'
 
 import { normalize } from '@/lib/text'
-import { $petInfo, type PetInfo, petProfile, setPetInfo } from '@/store/pet'
+import {
+  $petInfo,
+  hasPetSpriteForMeta,
+  mergePetInfoMeta,
+  type PetInfo,
+  type PetInfoMeta,
+  petProfile,
+  setPetInfo
+} from '@/store/pet'
 
 /**
  * Feature store for the petdex gallery picker (Cmd+K "Pets…" + Settings).
@@ -128,9 +136,9 @@ export function loadPetGallery(request: GatewayRequest, options: { force?: boole
     try {
       // Phase 1: local pets only — instant, never blocks on the remote petdex
       // manifest. The user's own/generated pets render right away.
-      const [local, info] = await Promise.all([
+      const [local] = await Promise.all([
         petRpc<PetGallery>(request, 'pet.gallery', { localOnly: true }),
-        petRpc<PetInfo>(request, 'pet.info')
+        syncInfo(request)
       ])
 
       if (local) {
@@ -140,9 +148,6 @@ export function loadPetGallery(request: GatewayRequest, options: { force?: boole
         localOk = true
       }
 
-      if (info) {
-        setPetInfo(info)
-      }
     } catch (e) {
       if (isMissingMethod(e)) {
         $petGalleryStatus.set('stale')
@@ -179,6 +184,42 @@ export function loadPetGallery(request: GatewayRequest, options: { force?: boole
 // network gallery — the floating pet repaints, the picker keeps its cache.
 async function syncInfo(request: GatewayRequest): Promise<void> {
   try {
+    let meta: PetInfoMeta | null = null
+
+    try {
+      meta = await petRpc<PetInfoMeta>(request, 'pet.info.meta')
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (!isMissingMethod(e)) {
+        throw e
+      }
+
+      const info = await petRpc<PetInfo>(request, 'pet.info')
+
+      if (info) {
+        setPetInfo(info)
+      }
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    if (!meta) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    if (!meta.enabled) {
+      setPetInfo({ enabled: false })
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    const current = $petInfo.get()
+
+    if (hasPetSpriteForMeta(current, meta)) {
+      setPetInfo(mergePetInfoMeta(current, meta))
+
+      return
+    }
+
     const info = await petRpc<PetInfo>(request, 'pet.info')
 
     if (info) {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.test.ts
index ce2327becb49d..fcee70c622bba 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import {
   $petState,
   derivePetState,
   flashPetActivity,
+  hasPetSpriteForMeta,
+  mergePetInfoMeta,
   setPetActivity
 } from './pet'
 
@@ -75,6 +77,36 @@ describe('roam motion', () => {
   })
 })
 
+describe('pet info metadata cache helpers', () => {
+  it('treats matching slug and spritesheet revision as a reusable sprite payload', () => {
+    const current = {
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Old Boba',
+      scale: 0.33,
+      spritesheetBase64: 'large-sprite-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+    }
+    const meta = {
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Boba',
+      scale: 0.5,
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+    }
+
+    expect(hasPetSpriteForMeta(current, meta)).toBe(true)
+    expect(mergePetInfoMeta(current, meta)).toMatchObject({
+      enabled: true,
+      slug: 'boba',
+      displayName: 'Boba',
+      scale: 0.5,
+      spritesheetBase64: 'large-sprite-payload',
+      spritesheetRevision: '100:2048'
+    })
+  })
+})
+
 describe('flashPetActivity', () => {
   it('clears stale sibling beats so a completion never inherits a prior error', () => {
     // A turn errors (sad), then the next turn finishes cleanly. The celebrate
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.ts
index b1e2e9d214e52..2c0c06581b29f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/pet.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,40 @@ export interface PetInfo {
   stateRows?: string[]
 }
 
+export interface PetInfoMeta {
+  enabled: boolean
+  slug?: string
+  displayName?: string
+  scale?: number
+  spritesheetRevision?: string
+}
+
+export function hasPetSpriteForMeta(info: PetInfo, meta: PetInfoMeta): boolean {
+  return (
+    meta.enabled &&
+    info.enabled &&
+    Boolean(info.spritesheetBase64) &&
+    info.slug === meta.slug &&
+    Boolean(info.spritesheetRevision) &&
+    info.spritesheetRevision === meta.spritesheetRevision
+  )
+}
+
+export function mergePetInfoMeta(info: PetInfo, meta: PetInfoMeta): PetInfo {
+  if (!meta.enabled) {
+    return { enabled: false }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    ...info,
+    enabled: true,
+    slug: meta.slug,
+    displayName: meta.displayName,
+    scale: meta.scale,
+    spritesheetRevision: meta.spritesheetRevision
+  }
+}
+
 export interface PetActivity {
   busy?: boolean
   awaitingInput?: boolean