diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/GeminiRespondingSpinner.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/GeminiRespondingSpinner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..57f5dd30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/GeminiRespondingSpinner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2025 Google LLC
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import React from 'react';
+import { Text } from 'ink';
+import Spinner from 'ink-spinner';
+import type { SpinnerName } from 'cli-spinners';
+import { useStreamingContext } from '../contexts/StreamingContext.js';
+import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
+
+interface GeminiRespondingSpinnerProps {
+  /**
+   * Optional string to display when not in Responding state.
+   * If not provided and not Responding, renders null.
+   */
+  nonRespondingDisplay?: string;
+  spinnerType?: SpinnerName;
+}
+
+export const GeminiRespondingSpinner: React.FC<
+  GeminiRespondingSpinnerProps
+> = ({ nonRespondingDisplay, spinnerType = 'dots' }) => {
+  const { streamingState } = useStreamingContext();
+
+  if (streamingState === StreamingState.Responding) {
+    return <Spinner type={spinnerType} />;
+  } else if (nonRespondingDisplay) {
+    return <Text>{nonRespondingDisplay}</Text>;
+  }
+  return null;
+};
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.test.tsx
index a03fb230..c74003e4 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.test.tsx
@@ -15,9 +15,21 @@ import {
 import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
 import { vi } from 'vitest';
 
-// Mock ink-spinner
-vi.mock('ink-spinner', () => ({
-  default: () => <Text>MockSpinner</Text>,
+// Mock GeminiRespondingSpinner
+vi.mock('./GeminiRespondingSpinner.js', () => ({
+  GeminiRespondingSpinner: ({
+    nonRespondingDisplay,
+  }: {
+    nonRespondingDisplay?: string;
+  }) => {
+    const { streamingState } = React.useContext(StreamingContext)!;
+    if (streamingState === StreamingState.Responding) {
+      return <Text>MockRespondingSpinner</Text>;
+    } else if (nonRespondingDisplay) {
+      return <Text>{nonRespondingDisplay}</Text>;
+    }
+    return null;
+  },
 }));
 
 const renderWithContext = (
@@ -54,12 +66,12 @@ describe('<LoadingIndicator />', () => {
       StreamingState.Responding,
     );
     const output = lastFrame();
-    expect(output).toContain('MockSpinner');
+    expect(output).toContain('MockRespondingSpinner');
     expect(output).toContain('Loading...');
     expect(output).toContain('(esc to cancel, 5s)');
   });
 
-  it('should render phrase and time but no spinner when streamingState is WaitingForConfirmation', () => {
+  it('should render spinner (static), phrase but no time/cancel when streamingState is WaitingForConfirmation', () => {
     const props = {
       currentLoadingPhrase: 'Confirm action',
       elapsedTime: 10,
@@ -69,7 +81,7 @@ describe('<LoadingIndicator />', () => {
       StreamingState.WaitingForConfirmation,
     );
     const output = lastFrame();
-    expect(output).not.toContain('MockSpinner');
+    expect(output).toContain('⠏'); // Static char for WaitingForConfirmation
     expect(output).toContain('Confirm action');
     expect(output).not.toContain('(esc to cancel)');
     expect(output).not.toContain(', 10s');
@@ -127,7 +139,7 @@ describe('<LoadingIndicator />', () => {
       </StreamingContext.Provider>,
     );
     let output = lastFrame();
-    expect(output).toContain('MockSpinner');
+    expect(output).toContain('MockRespondingSpinner');
     expect(output).toContain('Now Responding');
     expect(output).toContain('(esc to cancel, 2s)');
 
@@ -143,7 +155,7 @@ describe('<LoadingIndicator />', () => {
       </StreamingContext.Provider>,
     );
     output = lastFrame();
-    expect(output).not.toContain('MockSpinner');
+    expect(output).toContain('⠏');
     expect(output).toContain('Please Confirm');
     expect(output).not.toContain('(esc to cancel)');
     expect(output).not.toContain(', 15s');
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.tsx
index d24b6a56..c3865f3e 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/LoadingIndicator.tsx
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@
 
 import React from 'react';
 import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
-import Spinner from 'ink-spinner';
 import { Colors } from '../colors.js';
 import { useStreamingContext } from '../contexts/StreamingContext.js';
 import { StreamingState } from '../types.js';
+import { GeminiRespondingSpinner } from './GeminiRespondingSpinner.js';
 
 interface LoadingIndicatorProps {
   currentLoadingPhrase: string;
@@ -30,11 +30,13 @@ export const LoadingIndicator: React.FC<LoadingIndicatorProps> = ({
 
   return (
     <Box marginTop={1} paddingLeft={0}>
-      {streamingState === StreamingState.Responding && (
-        <Box marginRight={1}>
-          <Spinner type="dots" />
-        </Box>
-      )}
+      <Box marginRight={1}>
+        <GeminiRespondingSpinner
+          nonRespondingDisplay={
+            streamingState === StreamingState.WaitingForConfirmation ? '⠏' : ''
+          }
+        />
+      </Box>
       <Text color={Colors.AccentPurple}>
         {currentLoadingPhrase}
         {streamingState === StreamingState.WaitingForConfirmation
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.test.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.test.tsx
index 10380ad4..a40ca31b 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.test.tsx
@@ -4,15 +4,29 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
 
+import React from 'react';
 import { render } from 'ink-testing-library';
 import { ToolMessage, ToolMessageProps } from './ToolMessage.js';
 import { StreamingState, ToolCallStatus } from '../../types.js';
 import { Text } from 'ink';
-import { StreamingContext } from '../../contexts/StreamingContext.js';
+import {
+  StreamingContext,
+  StreamingContextType,
+} from '../../contexts/StreamingContext.js';
 
 // Mock child components or utilities if they are complex or have side effects
-vi.mock('ink-spinner', () => ({
-  default: () => <Text>MockSpinner</Text>,
+vi.mock('../GeminiRespondingSpinner.js', () => ({
+  GeminiRespondingSpinner: ({
+    nonRespondingDisplay,
+  }: {
+    nonRespondingDisplay?: string;
+  }) => {
+    const { streamingState } = React.useContext(StreamingContext)!;
+    if (streamingState === StreamingState.Responding) {
+      return <Text>MockRespondingSpinner</Text>;
+    }
+    return nonRespondingDisplay ? <Text>{nonRespondingDisplay}</Text> : null;
+  },
 }));
 vi.mock('./DiffRenderer.js', () => ({
   DiffRenderer: function MockDiffRenderer({
@@ -33,12 +47,14 @@ vi.mock('../../utils/MarkdownDisplay.js', () => ({
 const renderWithContext = (
   ui: React.ReactElement,
   streamingState: StreamingState,
-) =>
-  render(
-    <StreamingContext.Provider value={{ streamingState }}>
+) => {
+  const contextValue: StreamingContextType = { streamingState };
+  return render(
+    <StreamingContext.Provider value={contextValue}>
       {ui}
     </StreamingContext.Provider>,
   );
+};
 
 describe('<ToolMessage />', () => {
   const baseProps: ToolMessageProps = {
@@ -110,8 +126,8 @@ describe('<ToolMessage />', () => {
         <ToolMessage {...baseProps} status={ToolCallStatus.Executing} />,
         StreamingState.Idle,
       );
-      expect(lastFrame()).toContain('⠇');
-      expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('MockSpinner');
+      expect(lastFrame()).toContain('⊷');
+      expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('MockRespondingSpinner');
       expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('✔');
     });
 
@@ -120,17 +136,17 @@ describe('<ToolMessage />', () => {
         <ToolMessage {...baseProps} status={ToolCallStatus.Executing} />,
         StreamingState.WaitingForConfirmation,
       );
-      expect(lastFrame()).toContain('⠇');
-      expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('MockSpinner');
+      expect(lastFrame()).toContain('⊷');
+      expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('MockRespondingSpinner');
       expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('✔');
     });
 
-    it('shows MockSpinner for Executing status when streamingState is Responding', () => {
+    it('shows MockRespondingSpinner for Executing status when streamingState is Responding', () => {
       const { lastFrame } = renderWithContext(
         <ToolMessage {...baseProps} status={ToolCallStatus.Executing} />,
         StreamingState.Responding, // Simulate app still responding
       );
-      expect(lastFrame()).toContain('MockSpinner');
+      expect(lastFrame()).toContain('MockRespondingSpinner');
       expect(lastFrame()).not.toContain('✔');
     });
   });
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.tsx b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.tsx
index c8b61297..922f59d0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.tsx
+++ b/packages/cli/src/ui/components/messages/ToolMessage.tsx
@@ -6,16 +6,11 @@
 
 import React from 'react';
 import { Box, Text } from 'ink';
-import Spinner from 'ink-spinner';
-import {
-  IndividualToolCallDisplay,
-  StreamingState,
-  ToolCallStatus,
-} from '../../types.js';
+import { IndividualToolCallDisplay, ToolCallStatus } from '../../types.js';
 import { DiffRenderer } from './DiffRenderer.js';
 import { Colors } from '../../colors.js';
 import { MarkdownDisplay } from '../../utils/MarkdownDisplay.js';
-import { useStreamingContext } from '../../contexts/StreamingContext.js';
+import { GeminiRespondingSpinner } from '../GeminiRespondingSpinner.js';
 
 const STATIC_HEIGHT = 1;
 const RESERVED_LINE_COUNT = 5; // for tool name, status, padding etc.
@@ -61,7 +56,6 @@ export const ToolMessage: React.FC<ToolMessageProps> = ({
   return (
     <Box paddingX={1} paddingY={0} flexDirection="column">
       <Box minHeight={1}>
-        {/* Status Indicator */}
         <ToolStatusIndicator status={status} />
         <ToolInfo
           name={name}
@@ -107,41 +101,38 @@ export const ToolMessage: React.FC<ToolMessageProps> = ({
 type ToolStatusIndicatorProps = {
   status: ToolCallStatus;
 };
+
 const ToolStatusIndicator: React.FC<ToolStatusIndicatorProps> = ({
   status,
-}) => {
-  const { streamingState } = useStreamingContext();
-  return (
-    <Box minWidth={STATUS_INDICATOR_WIDTH}>
-      {status === ToolCallStatus.Pending && (
-        <Text color={Colors.AccentGreen}>o</Text>
-      )}
-      {status === ToolCallStatus.Executing &&
-        (streamingState === StreamingState.Responding ? (
-          <Spinner type="toggle" />
-        ) : (
-          // Paused spinner to avoid flicker.
-          <Text>⠇</Text>
-        ))}
-      {status === ToolCallStatus.Success && (
-        <Text color={Colors.AccentGreen}>✔</Text>
-      )}
-      {status === ToolCallStatus.Confirming && (
-        <Text color={Colors.AccentYellow}>?</Text>
-      )}
-      {status === ToolCallStatus.Canceled && (
-        <Text color={Colors.AccentYellow} bold>
-          -
-        </Text>
-      )}
-      {status === ToolCallStatus.Error && (
-        <Text color={Colors.AccentRed} bold>
-          x
-        </Text>
-      )}
-    </Box>
-  );
-};
+}) => (
+  <Box minWidth={STATUS_INDICATOR_WIDTH}>
+    {status === ToolCallStatus.Pending && (
+      <Text color={Colors.AccentGreen}>o</Text>
+    )}
+    {status === ToolCallStatus.Executing && (
+      <GeminiRespondingSpinner
+        spinnerType="toggle"
+        nonRespondingDisplay={'⊷'}
+      />
+    )}
+    {status === ToolCallStatus.Success && (
+      <Text color={Colors.AccentGreen}>✔</Text>
+    )}
+    {status === ToolCallStatus.Confirming && (
+      <Text color={Colors.AccentYellow}>?</Text>
+    )}
+    {status === ToolCallStatus.Canceled && (
+      <Text color={Colors.AccentYellow} bold>
+        -
+      </Text>
+    )}
+    {status === ToolCallStatus.Error && (
+      <Text color={Colors.AccentRed} bold>
+        x
+      </Text>
+    )}
+  </Box>
+);
 
 type ToolInfo = {
   name: string;