diff --git a/docs/messages.md b/docs/messages.md
index 0a992c2..5455d24 100644
--- a/docs/messages.md
+++ b/docs/messages.md
@@ -44,10 +44,12 @@ The token is `crypto.randomUUID()` in localStorage
 its blake3 hash as the thread key. Pages are shared/cached renders, so the
 thread UI is entirely client-side. A per-browser "seen" timestamp
 (`pagerite-contact-seen`) and the newest admin reply's timestamp
-(`pagerite-contact-lastadmin`) drive the unread dot on trigger buttons and
-the corner ✉️ icon when an admin reply arrives while the panel is closed —
-including on a fresh page load before any socket activity (pagerite.js
-reads the pair directly; the bundle keeps it live once loaded).
+(`pagerite-contact-lastadmin`) drive the unread marker (a periodic
+scale-and-shake nudge animation, `has-unread` in pagerite.css) on trigger
+buttons and the corner ✉️ icon when an admin reply arrives while the panel
+is closed — including on a fresh page load before any socket activity
+(pagerite.js reads the pair directly; the bundle keeps it live once
+loaded).
 
 The panel rides the public `/_ws` activity socket via a bridge in
 `pagerite.js` (`register`/`send`, sharing its queue and reconnect pacing —
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ Replies store the SSO `remote-user` name for audit but are labeled with
 the currently configured **site name** in the wire payload (substituted at
 read time) and mark the thread read; `unread` on a thread means its last
 message is the visitor's and newer than the admin's last read. The icon's
-badge (a count of unanswered threads) is seeded by the `/_api/settings`
+unread marker (any unanswered thread) is seeded by the `/_api/settings`
 probe's `contact_unread` on every page load and kept live by the inbox
 while it is open.
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css b/frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css
index 2fdad55..e3694c5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css
+++ b/frontend/src/assets/pagerite.css
@@ -408,10 +408,9 @@ body.editing #sidebar {
 }
 
 /* The corner ✉️ (docs/messages.md) is in the pens row for everyone, so
-   needs its own positioning context for the unread markers: the same
-   accent dot as the trigger buttons (visitors: a new reply) or a count
-   pill (admins: unanswered threads). The marker lifts the icon out of the
-   icon-btn dimming so it reads clearly. */
+   needs its own positioning context. Unread (a new reply for visitors,
+   unanswered threads for admins) lifts it out of the icon-btn dimming
+   and animates it (see contact-nudge by the trigger button). */
 .contact-icon {
   position: relative;
 }
@@ -420,34 +419,6 @@ body.editing #sidebar {
   opacity: 1;
 }
 
-.contact-icon.has-unread::after {
-  content: "";
-  position: absolute;
-  top: -0.2em;
-  right: -0.25em;
-  width: 0.5em;
-  height: 0.5em;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--accent);
-  box-shadow: 0 0 0 0.12em var(--bg);
-}
-
-.contact-icon .n {
-  position: absolute;
-  top: -0.5em;
-  right: -0.7em;
-  min-width: 1.3em;
-  padding: 0.05em 0.3em;
-  border-radius: 1em;
-  background: var(--accent);
-  color: var(--bg);
-  font-size: 0.62em;
-  font-weight: 700;
-  line-height: 1.3;
-  text-align: center;
-  opacity: 1;
-}
-
 #sidebar {
   grid-column: 1;
   /* Pinned to the page's start edge (not the article's) and kept in view
@@ -948,16 +919,24 @@ article {
   outline-offset: 2px;
 }
 
-.contact-trigger.has-unread::after {
-  content: "";
-  position: absolute;
-  top: -0.25em;
-  right: -0.25em;
-  width: 0.6em;
-  height: 0.6em;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--accent);
-  box-shadow: 0 0 0 0.15em var(--bg);
+/* Unread (a new admin reply, or unanswered threads on the corner icon —
+   the .has-unread class, set by contact-main): a scale-up with a shake
+   every few seconds to draw the eye, stopping when read (the class goes
+   away). No static badge; reduced-motion users just get the lift above. */
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+  .contact-trigger.has-unread,
+  .contact-icon.has-unread {
+    animation: contact-nudge 4.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  }
+
+  @keyframes contact-nudge {
+    0%, 16%, 100% { transform: none; }
+    2% { transform: scale(1.15) rotate(-8deg); }
+    5% { transform: scale(1.15) rotate(7deg); }
+    8% { transform: scale(1.15) rotate(-5deg); }
+    11% { transform: scale(1.15) rotate(4deg); }
+    14% { transform: scale(1.12); }
+  }
 }
 
 .edit-link {
diff --git a/frontend/src/contact-main.js b/frontend/src/contact-main.js
index d0ad406..6f8517f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/contact-main.js
+++ b/frontend/src/contact-main.js
@@ -105,32 +105,18 @@ async function onPow(msg) {
   }
 }
 
-// Unread markers: a dot on every contact trigger button while the panel
-// is closed and the newest admin message is younger than the last look,
-// and on the corner ✉️ icon — a count of unanswered threads for admins,
-// the same dot for visitors. Called on thread pushes and (from
-// pagerite.js) after navigations, whose swap rebuilds the buttons.
+// Unread markers: the has-unread class (a periodic nudge animation, see
+// pagerite.css) on every contact trigger button and on the corner ✉️ icon
+// — a new admin reply for visitors, any unanswered thread for admins.
+// Called on thread pushes and (from pagerite.js) after navigations, whose
+// swap rebuilds the buttons.
 export function refreshBadges() {
   for (const btn of document.querySelectorAll('.contact-trigger')) {
     btn.classList.toggle('has-unread', state.unread)
   }
   const icon = document.getElementById('contact-icon')
   if (!icon) return
-  if (state.viewerAdmin) {
-    let badge = icon.querySelector('.n')
-    if (state.adminUnread > 0) {
-      if (!badge) {
-        badge = document.createElement('span')
-        badge.className = 'n'
-        icon.append(badge)
-      }
-      badge.textContent = state.adminUnread
-    } else {
-      badge?.remove()
-    }
-  } else {
-    icon.classList.toggle('has-unread', state.unread)
-  }
+  icon.classList.toggle('has-unread', state.viewerAdmin ? state.adminUnread > 0 : state.unread)
 }
 
 function onThread(thread) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pagerite.js b/frontend/src/pagerite.js
index be711b5..7158ab1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pagerite.js
+++ b/frontend/src/pagerite.js
@@ -199,12 +199,7 @@ import { reconnectPolicy, socketSlot, watchConnecting } from "./reconnect";
     b.title = admin ? "messages" : "contact us";
     b.textContent = "✉️";
     if (admin) {
-      if (adminUnreadSeed > 0) {
-        const badge = document.createElement("span");
-        badge.className = "n";
-        badge.textContent = adminUnreadSeed;
-        b.append(badge);
-      }
+      if (adminUnreadSeed > 0) b.classList.add("has-unread");
     } else {
       const seen = Number(localStorage.getItem("pagerite-contact-seen") || 0);
       const last = localStorage.getItem("pagerite-contact-lastadmin") || "";