diff --git a/libs/chat/package.json b/libs/chat/package.json
index 0153f1439..a28577eb7 100644
--- a/libs/chat/package.json
+++ b/libs/chat/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/chat",
-  "version": "0.0.12",
+  "version": "0.0.13",
   "exports": {
     ".": {
       "types": "./index.d.ts",
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-message.styles.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-message.styles.ts
index b0a54039c..1f9f556ad 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-message.styles.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-message.styles.ts
@@ -41,13 +41,19 @@ export const CHAT_MESSAGE_STYLES = `
     margin-left: 2px;
     margin-top: 0.25rem;
     color: var(--ngaf-chat-text-muted);
-    /* Smooth pulse curve (copilotkit-style) — easier on the eyes than a
-       hard step-end blink, especially during long streams. */
-    animation: ngaf-chat-pulse 2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) infinite;
     vertical-align: text-bottom;
   }
   :host([data-role="assistant"][data-current="true"][data-streaming="true"]) .chat-message__caret {
     display: inline-block;
+    /* The caret is suppressed for the first 300ms of streaming so quick
+       responses (one-or-two-token "hello"-style replies) never flash the
+       cursor. Past 300ms the smooth pulse takes over (copilotkit-style)
+       — easier on the eyes than a hard blink during long streams.
+       Note: animations restart whenever the element is created/inserted,
+       so this delay re-applies on every new streaming message. */
+    opacity: 0;
+    animation: ngaf-chat-caret-fade-in 200ms ease-out 300ms forwards,
+               ngaf-chat-pulse 2s cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.6, 1) 500ms infinite;
   }
 
   .chat-message__plain { /* system / tool fallback */ }
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts
index a78191215..1dae6e800 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ const KEYFRAMES = `
     0%, 50% { opacity: 1; }
     50.01%, 100% { opacity: 0; }
   }
+  @keyframes ngaf-chat-caret-fade-in {
+    from { opacity: 0; }
+    to   { opacity: 1; }
+  }
 `;
 
 /**
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-typing-indicator.styles.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-typing-indicator.styles.ts
index f5d5ee407..3a934b055 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-typing-indicator.styles.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-typing-indicator.styles.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,16 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
 export const CHAT_TYPING_INDICATOR_STYLES = `
-  :host { display: block; padding: 0 var(--ngaf-chat-space-6) var(--ngaf-chat-space-3); }
+  /* Sit in the same centered column as chat-message-list so the dots
+     don't flash at the scroll container's left edge before the assistant
+     message renders. */
+  :host {
+    display: block;
+    padding: 0 var(--ngaf-chat-space-6) var(--ngaf-chat-space-3);
+    max-width: var(--ngaf-chat-max-width);
+    margin: 0 auto;
+    width: 100%;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+  }
   .chat-typing__dots { display: inline-flex; gap: 4px; align-items: center; }
   .chat-typing__dot {
     width: 6px;