diff --git a/strix/interface/tui/app.py b/strix/interface/tui/app.py
index 4453ea194..fcbacf086 100644
--- a/strix/interface/tui/app.py
+++ b/strix/interface/tui/app.py
@@ -709,6 +709,8 @@ def __init__(self, args: argparse.Namespace):
         self._displayed_agents: set[str] = set()
         self._displayed_events: list[str] = []
 
+        self._event_render_cache: dict[str, Any] = {}
+
         self._scan_thread: threading.Thread | None = None
         self._scan_loop: asyncio.AbstractEventLoop | None = None
         self._scan_stop_event = threading.Event()
@@ -902,7 +904,8 @@ def _update_ui(self) -> None:
 
         self._update_chat_view()
 
-        self._update_agent_status_display()
+        if self._dot_animation_timer is None:
+            self._update_agent_status_display()
 
         self._update_stats_display()
 
@@ -1086,11 +1089,24 @@ def _get_rendered_events_content(self, events: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> Any:
 
         for event in events:
             content: Any = None
+            event_id = event["id"]
 
             if event["type"] == "chat":
-                content = self._render_chat_content(event["data"])
+                if event_id in self._event_render_cache:
+                    content = self._event_render_cache[event_id]
+                else:
+                    content = self._render_chat_content(event["data"])
+                    if content is not None:
+                        self._event_render_cache[event_id] = content
             elif event["type"] == "tool":
-                content = render_tool_widget(event["data"])
+                status = event["data"].get("status", "")
+                cache_key = f"{event_id}_{status}"
+                if cache_key in self._event_render_cache:
+                    content = self._event_render_cache[cache_key]
+                else:
+                    content = render_tool_widget(event["data"])
+                    if content is not None and status in ("completed", "failed", "error"):
+                        self._event_render_cache[cache_key] = content
 
             if content:
                 if renderables:
@@ -1305,6 +1321,7 @@ def _animate_dots(self) -> None:
             status = agent_data.get("status", "running")
             if status in ["running", "waiting"]:
                 has_active_agents = True
+            if status == "running":
                 num_colors = len(self._sweep_colors)
                 offset = num_colors - 1
                 max_pos = (self._sweep_num_squares - 1) + offset
@@ -1346,6 +1363,7 @@ def watch_selected_agent_id(self, _agent_id: str | None) -> None:
             return
 
         self._displayed_events.clear()
+        self._event_render_cache.clear()
 
         self.call_later(self._update_chat_view)
         self._update_agent_status_display()