diff --git a/lib/pixel-office/engine/characters.ts b/lib/pixel-office/engine/characters.ts
index ec00bef..184b52c 100644
--- a/lib/pixel-office/engine/characters.ts
+++ b/lib/pixel-office/engine/characters.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ export function createCharacter(
     matrixEffectSeeds: [],
     interactionTarget: null,
     isCat: false,
+    isLobster: false,
     codeSnippets: [],
     photoComments: [],
     isViewingPhoto: false,
@@ -111,8 +112,8 @@ export function updateCharacter(
 ): void {
   ch.frameTimer += dt
 
-  // Cat-specific update: always wander, never sit
-  if (ch.isCat) {
+  // Pet-specific update: always wander, never sit
+  if (ch.isCat || ch.isLobster) {
     updateCat(ch, dt, walkableTiles, tileMap, blockedTiles)
     return
   }
diff --git a/lib/pixel-office/engine/officeState.ts b/lib/pixel-office/engine/officeState.ts
index 60f15b2..a1b3a3a 100644
--- a/lib/pixel-office/engine/officeState.ts
+++ b/lib/pixel-office/engine/officeState.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ export class OfficeState {
   subagentMeta: Map<number, { parentAgentId: number; parentToolId: string }> = new Map()
   private nextSubagentId = -1
   private static CAT_ID = -9999
+  private static LOBSTER_ID = -9998
 
   constructor(layout?: OfficeLayout) {
     this.layout = layout || createDefaultLayout()
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ export class OfficeState {
     this.interactionPoints = getInteractionPoints(this.layout.furniture, this.tileMap, this.blockedTiles)
     this.doorwayTiles = getDoorwayTiles(this.layout)
     this.spawnCat()
+    this.spawnLobster()
   }
 
   /** Rebuild all derived state from a new layout. Reassigns existing characters.
@@ -353,6 +355,24 @@ export class OfficeState {
     this.characters.set(id, ch)
   }
 
+  /** Spawn the office lobster at a random walkable tile */
+  spawnLobster(): void {
+    const id = OfficeState.LOBSTER_ID
+    if (this.characters.has(id)) return
+    const spawn = this.walkableTiles.length > 0
+      ? this.walkableTiles[Math.floor(Math.random() * this.walkableTiles.length)]
+      : { col: 1, row: 1 }
+    const ch = createCharacter(id, 0, null, null, 0)
+    ch.isLobster = true
+    ch.tileCol = spawn.col
+    ch.tileRow = spawn.row
+    ch.x = spawn.col * TILE_SIZE + TILE_SIZE / 2
+    ch.y = spawn.row * TILE_SIZE + TILE_SIZE / 2
+    ch.state = CharacterState.IDLE
+    ch.wanderTimer = 1 + Math.random() * 3
+    this.characters.set(id, ch)
+  }
+
   removeAgent(id: number): void {
     const ch = this.characters.get(id)
     if (!ch) return
@@ -754,7 +774,7 @@ export class OfficeState {
       }
 
       // Photo comment particles for characters viewing the photograph
-      if (ch.isViewingPhoto && ch.state === CharacterState.IDLE && !ch.isCat) {
+      if (ch.isViewingPhoto && ch.state === CharacterState.IDLE && !ch.isCat && !ch.isLobster) {
         for (const pc of ch.photoComments) pc.age += dt
         ch.photoComments = ch.photoComments.filter(pc => pc.age < PHOTO_COMMENT_LIFETIME)
         if (ch.photoComments.length < 2 && Math.random() < dt * PHOTO_COMMENT_SPAWN_RATE) {
@@ -778,7 +798,7 @@ export class OfficeState {
       }
 
       // Code snippet particles for working characters
-      if (ch.isActive && ch.state === CharacterState.TYPE && !ch.isCat) {
+      if (ch.isActive && ch.state === CharacterState.TYPE && !ch.isCat && !ch.isLobster) {
         // Age existing snippets and remove expired ones
         for (const s of ch.codeSnippets) s.age += dt
         ch.codeSnippets = ch.codeSnippets.filter(s => s.age < CODE_SNIPPET_LIFETIME)
@@ -809,9 +829,9 @@ export class OfficeState {
   getCharacterAt(worldX: number, worldY: number): number | null {
     const chars = this.getCharacters().sort((a, b) => b.y - a.y)
     for (const ch of chars) {
-      // Skip characters that are despawning or cats
+      // Skip characters that are despawning or pets
       if (ch.matrixEffect === 'despawn') continue
-      if (ch.isCat) continue
+      if (ch.isCat || ch.isLobster) continue
       // Character sprite is 16x24, anchored bottom-center
       // Apply sitting offset to match visual position
       const sittingOffset = ch.state === CharacterState.TYPE ? CHARACTER_SITTING_OFFSET_PX : 0
diff --git a/lib/pixel-office/engine/renderer.ts b/lib/pixel-office/engine/renderer.ts
index ff36cc3..8d1ff6b 100644
--- a/lib/pixel-office/engine/renderer.ts
+++ b/lib/pixel-office/engine/renderer.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { TileType, TILE_SIZE, CharacterState } from '../types'
+import { TileType, TILE_SIZE, CharacterState, Direction } from '../types'
 import type { TileType as TileTypeVal, FurnitureInstance, Character, SpriteData, Seat, FloorColor } from '../types'
 import { getCachedSprite, getOutlineSprite } from '../sprites/spriteCache'
 import { getCharacterSprites, BUBBLE_PERMISSION_SPRITE, BUBBLE_WAITING_SPRITE } from '../sprites/spriteData'
@@ -297,6 +297,32 @@ export function renderScene(
 
   // Characters
   for (const ch of characters) {
+    const charZY = ch.y + TILE_SIZE / 2 + CHARACTER_Z_SORT_OFFSET
+
+    if (ch.isLobster) {
+      const lobsterX = Math.round(offsetX + ch.x * zoom)
+      const lobsterY = Math.round(offsetY + ch.y * zoom + 2 * zoom)
+      const lobsterAngle =
+        ch.dir === Direction.RIGHT ? Math.PI / 2 :
+        ch.dir === Direction.DOWN ? Math.PI :
+        ch.dir === Direction.LEFT ? -Math.PI / 2 :
+        0
+      drawables.push({
+        zY: charZY,
+        draw: (c) => {
+          c.save()
+          c.translate(lobsterX, lobsterY)
+          c.rotate(lobsterAngle)
+          c.textAlign = 'center'
+          c.textBaseline = 'middle'
+          c.font = `${Math.max(14, Math.round(9 * zoom))}px serif`
+          c.fillText('🦞', 0, 0)
+          c.restore()
+        },
+      })
+      continue
+    }
+
     const sprites = ch.isCat ? getCatSprites() : getCharacterSprites(ch.palette, ch.hueShift)
     const spriteData = getCharacterSprite(ch, sprites)
     const cached = getCachedSprite(spriteData, zoom)
@@ -309,7 +335,6 @@ export function renderScene(
     // Sort characters by bottom of their tile (not center) so they render
     // in front of same-row furniture (e.g. chairs) but behind furniture
     // at lower rows (e.g. desks, bookshelves that occlude from below).
-    const charZY = ch.y + TILE_SIZE / 2 + CHARACTER_Z_SORT_OFFSET
 
     // Matrix spawn/despawn effect — skip outline, use per-pixel rendering
     if (ch.matrixEffect) {
diff --git a/lib/pixel-office/types.ts b/lib/pixel-office/types.ts
index 1372a62..5b045dd 100644
--- a/lib/pixel-office/types.ts
+++ b/lib/pixel-office/types.ts
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ export interface Character {
   matrixEffectSeeds: number[]
   interactionTarget: { col: number; row: number; facingDir: Direction; furnitureType?: string } | null
   isCat: boolean
+  isLobster: boolean
   codeSnippets: Array<{ text: string; age: number; x: number; y: number }>
   photoComments: Array<{ text: string; age: number; x: number }>
   isViewingPhoto: boolean