diff --git a/ui-tui/src/app/petFlashStore.ts b/ui-tui/src/app/petFlashStore.ts
index 328fcfc8b04..b1ecf97e995 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/app/petFlashStore.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/app/petFlashStore.ts
@@ -13,3 +13,9 @@ interface PetFlash {
 export const $petFlash = atom<PetFlash | null>(null)
 
 export const flashPet = (state: PetState, ms = 1600) => $petFlash.set({ state, until: Date.now() + ms })
+
+// The floating pet's footprint, or null when no pet is shown. The transcript
+// keeps its text clear of the pet responsively: on wide terminals it reserves a
+// right gutter (`width`) so lines wrap to the pet's LEFT; on narrow terminals it
+// reserves bottom rows (`height`) so lines stay full-width and sit ABOVE it.
+export const $petBox = atom<{ width: number; height: number } | null>(null)