diff --git a/tests/test_mcp_oauth_connections.py b/tests/test_mcp_oauth_connections.py
index f792e73b..6f3ce322 100644
--- a/tests/test_mcp_oauth_connections.py
+++ b/tests/test_mcp_oauth_connections.py
@@ -809,7 +809,10 @@ class TestEvictUserSession:
             def _fake_evict(key: tuple[str, str]) -> None:
                 evicted.append(key)
 
-            mgr._evict_session = _fake_evict  # type: ignore[method-assign]
+            # The revoke entry point must take the DROP-CATALOG flavor —
+            # the user asked for the disconnect, so their live sessions
+            # see the tools leave (unlike dispatch-failure eviction, #836).
+            mgr._evict_session_drop_catalog = _fake_evict  # type: ignore[method-assign]
 
             # Run the dispatch on a separate thread so the loop can drain.
             import threading
diff --git a/tests/test_mcp_user_catalog.py b/tests/test_mcp_user_catalog.py
index 251c627e..e38e3e1c 100644
--- a/tests/test_mcp_user_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/test_mcp_user_catalog.py
@@ -430,17 +430,75 @@ def test_pool_tool_visibility_user_isolation(
     assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__shared_tool", user_id="user-3") is False
 
 
-def test_eviction_drops_catalog_and_fires_listener(
+def test_evict_session_keeps_catalog_and_fires_no_listener(
     running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
 ) -> None:
-    """``_evict_session`` clears ``entry.tools``, rebuilds the user's
-    map (drops the now-empty entry), and fires user + admin listeners.
+    """``_evict_session`` (dispatch-failure eviction: 401 / 403 /
+    transport blip) drops ONLY the session — the catalog and per-user
+    maps stay, no listener fires, and ``is_mcp_tool`` keeps resolving
+    the name (#836).
 
-    Verified by reverting the catalog-cleanup block in ``_evict_session``
-    (drop the ``evict.tools = None`` / ``_rebuild_user_tool_map`` /
-    ``_notify_user_tool_listeners`` calls): the test fails because the
+    Clearing the catalog here silently removed the server's tools from
+    the user's live sessions on the first failed dispatch: the maps
+    rebuilt empty, the session-side ``is_mcp_tool`` gate closed, and
+    with no re-prime path the tools never came back — which also made
+    the breaker's half-open recovery and the consent / step-up cards
+    unreachable.
+
+    Verified by restoring the old catalog-cleanup block in
+    ``_evict_session`` (``evict.tools = None`` + rebuild + notify):
+    this test fails because the listener fires AND ``is_mcp_tool``
+    flips to False.
+    """
+    mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+    handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
+        list_tools_response=_list_tools_payload([_tool_spec("do_thing")]),
+    )
+    _build_mock_transport_factory(mgr, monkeypatch, handler)
+    _patch_tcp_probe(mgr, monkeypatch)
+
+    _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
+    assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is True
+
+    user_calls = [0]
+    admin_calls = [0]
+
+    def _user_cb() -> None:
+        user_calls[0] += 1
+
+    def _admin_cb() -> None:
+        admin_calls[0] += 1
+
+    mgr.add_listener(_user_cb, user_id="user-1")
+    mgr.add_listener(_admin_cb)  # admin / None
+
+    mgr._evict_session(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
+
+    # Session dropped; catalog RETAINED.
+    entry = mgr._user_pool_entries[("user-1", "pool-srv")]
+    assert entry.session is None
+    assert entry.tools is not None
+    # User map intact — the live session's merged tool list is untouched.
+    assert "user-1" in mgr._user_tool_map
+    assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is True
+    # Nothing changed catalog-wise → NO fan-out.
+    assert user_calls[0] == 0, f"user-keyed listener fired {user_calls[0]} times; expected 0"
+    assert admin_calls[0] == 0, f"admin listener fired {admin_calls[0]} times; expected 0"
+
+
+def test_evict_user_session_drops_catalog_and_fires_listener(
+    running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """``_evict_session_drop_catalog`` (the explicit-revocation flavor
+    behind ``evict_user_session``) clears ``entry.tools``, rebuilds the
+    user's map (drops the now-empty entry), and fires user + admin
+    listeners — the user asked for the disconnect, so their live
+    sessions SHOULD see the tools leave.
+
+    Verified by reverting the catalog-cleanup block in
+    ``_evict_session_drop_catalog``: the test fails because the
     listener never fires AND ``is_mcp_tool`` keeps returning True for
-    the now-evicted tool.
+    the now-revoked tool.
     """
     mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
     handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
@@ -453,7 +511,7 @@ def test_eviction_drops_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is True
 
     # Register one user-keyed and one admin (None) listener; both
-    # MUST fire on this user's eviction.
+    # MUST fire on this user's revocation.
     user_calls = [0]
     admin_calls = [0]
     other_calls = [0]
@@ -471,7 +529,7 @@ def test_eviction_drops_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     mgr.add_listener(_admin_cb)  # admin / None
     mgr.add_listener(_other_cb, user_id="user-2")
 
-    mgr._evict_session(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
+    mgr._evict_session_drop_catalog(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
 
     # Catalog cleared.
     entry = mgr._user_pool_entries[("user-1", "pool-srv")]
@@ -479,7 +537,7 @@ def test_eviction_drops_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     assert entry.tools is None
     # User map dropped (no remaining pool entries for this user).
     assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_tool_map
-    # is_mcp_tool no longer surfaces the evicted name.
+    # is_mcp_tool no longer surfaces the revoked name.
     assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is False
     # Listener fan-out: matching user + admin fire, OTHER user does not.
     assert user_calls[0] == 1, f"user-keyed listener fired {user_calls[0]} times; expected 1"
@@ -490,22 +548,19 @@ def test_eviction_drops_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     )
 
 
-def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_clears_catalog_and_fires_listener(
+def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_cools_entry_for_live_session_user(
     running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
 ) -> None:
-    """LRU/TTL eviction (``_close_pool_entry_if_idle``) mirrors
-    ``_evict_session``'s catalog-cleanup contract: drops the entry,
-    prunes the notification-debounce dict, rebuilds the user's tool
-    map, and fires user + admin listeners.
+    """TTL/LRU eviction COOLS the entry when the user has a live
+    session (a registered user-scoped tool listener): the transport is
+    torn down but the entry, its catalog, the per-user maps, and the
+    entry's ``open_lock`` all survive, and NO listener fires — the live
+    session's model-visible tool list must not shrink because the user
+    went 10 minutes without an MCP dispatch (#836).
 
-    Phase 7 round-2 review hardening (round2-1): the bug-2 fix added
-    the catalog-cleanup block to this method but no integration test
-    drove it — exactly the failure mode flagged in
-    ``feedback_tests_through_boundaries.md``. Negative test: drop the
-    ``_rebuild_user_tool_map`` / ``_notify_user_tool_listeners`` calls
-    from ``_close_pool_entry_if_idle``'s post-pop block; this test
-    fails because ``is_mcp_tool`` keeps returning ``True`` for the
-    evicted name AND no listener fires.
+    Negative test: restore the unconditional pop + rebuild + notify in
+    ``_close_pool_entry_if_idle``: this test fails because the entry
+    vanishes, ``is_mcp_tool`` flips to False, and the listener fires.
     """
     mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
     handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
@@ -517,36 +572,100 @@ def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_clears_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
     key = ("user-1", "pool-srv")
     assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is True
-    # Sanity: in_flight must be 0 for the eviction path to proceed.
     assert mgr._user_pool_entries[key].in_flight == 0
-    # Seed the debounce dict so the perf-1 prune is observable.
+    # Seed the debounce dict so the prune-on-close is observable.
     mgr._last_pool_notification_refresh[key] = 0.0
 
     user_calls = [0]
     admin_calls = [0]
-    other_calls = [0]
 
     def _user_cb() -> None:
         user_calls[0] += 1
 
+    def _admin_cb() -> None:
+        admin_calls[0] += 1
+
+    # The user-scoped tool listener is the liveness signal (#836).
+    mgr.add_listener(_user_cb, user_id="user-1")
+    mgr.add_listener(_admin_cb)  # admin / None
+
+    _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._close_pool_entry_if_idle(key))
+
+    # Entry cooled, not dropped: transport gone, catalog intact.
+    entry = mgr._user_pool_entries.get(key)
+    assert entry is not None, "cooled entry must survive TTL eviction"
+    assert entry.session is None
+    assert entry.owner_task is None
+    assert entry.tools is not None
+    # The lock object must survive with the entry — an in-flight
+    # dispatcher's next acquire needs the same lock.
+    assert key in mgr._user_pool_locks
+    # Debounce stamp pruned with the transport.
+    assert key not in mgr._last_pool_notification_refresh
+    # Per-user catalog view untouched.
+    assert "user-1" in mgr._user_tool_map
+    assert "user-1" in mgr._user_tools
+    assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is True
+    # Nothing changed catalog-wise → NO fan-out (a fan-out here would
+    # make every live session rebuild its tool list every idle TTL).
+    assert user_calls[0] == 0, f"user-keyed listener fired {user_calls[0]} times; expected 0"
+    assert admin_calls[0] == 0, f"admin listener fired {admin_calls[0]} times; expected 0"
+
+    # A second close on the already-cooled entry is a no-op — no drop,
+    # no fan-out (the eviction loop additionally skips cooled entries
+    # before even getting here).
+    _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._close_pool_entry_if_idle(key))
+    assert key in mgr._user_pool_entries
+    assert user_calls[0] == 0 and admin_calls[0] == 0
+
+
+def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_drops_entry_without_live_listener(
+    running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """TTL/LRU eviction FULLY drops the entry when the user has no live
+    session: entry popped, notification-debounce dict pruned, per-user
+    maps rebuilt, and the (admin-only) fan-out fires — departed users'
+    entries must not outlive their sessions.
+
+    Phase 7 round-2 review hardening (round2-1) heritage: the
+    catalog-cleanup block needs an integration test driving it — the
+    failure mode flagged in ``feedback_tests_through_boundaries.md``.
+    Negative test: drop the ``_rebuild_user_tool_map`` /
+    ``_notify_user_tool_listeners`` calls from the post-pop block; this
+    test fails because ``is_mcp_tool`` keeps returning ``True`` for the
+    evicted name AND the admin listener never fires.
+    """
+    mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+    handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
+        list_tools_response=_list_tools_payload([_tool_spec("do_thing")]),
+    )
+    _build_mock_transport_factory(mgr, monkeypatch, handler)
+    _patch_tcp_probe(mgr, monkeypatch)
+
+    _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
+    key = ("user-1", "pool-srv")
+    assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is True
+    assert mgr._user_pool_entries[key].in_flight == 0
+    # Seed the debounce dict so the perf-1 prune is observable.
+    mgr._last_pool_notification_refresh[key] = 0.0
+
+    admin_calls = [0]
+    other_calls = [0]
+
     def _admin_cb() -> None:
         admin_calls[0] += 1
 
     def _other_cb() -> None:
         other_calls[0] += 1
 
-    mgr.add_listener(_user_cb, user_id="user-1")
+    # NO user-1 tool listener — user-1 has no live session. The admin
+    # (None) and unrelated-user listeners don't count as liveness.
     mgr.add_listener(_admin_cb)  # admin / None
     mgr.add_listener(_other_cb, user_id="user-2")
 
-    # Drive the LRU/TTL eviction path directly. ``open_lock`` is
-    # uncontested (no concurrent dispatch) and ``in_flight`` is 0,
-    # so the close proceeds without retry.
     _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._close_pool_entry_if_idle(key))
 
-    # Entry fully removed (LRU eviction pops the dict — unlike
-    # ``_evict_session`` which keeps the entry as a ``session=None``
-    # phantom for the next dispatch to re-connect).
+    # Entry fully removed.
     assert key not in mgr._user_pool_entries
     assert key not in mgr._user_pool_last_used
     assert key not in mgr._user_pool_locks
@@ -556,8 +675,8 @@ def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_clears_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_tool_map
     assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_tools
     assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__do_thing", user_id="user-1") is False
-    # Listener fan-out: matching user + admin fire, OTHER user does not.
-    assert user_calls[0] == 1, f"user-keyed listener fired {user_calls[0]} times; expected 1"
+    # Admin fan-out fires (operator tooling observes the drop); the
+    # unrelated user's listener does not.
     assert admin_calls[0] == 1, f"admin listener fired {admin_calls[0]} times; expected 1"
     assert other_calls[0] == 0, (
         f"unrelated user-2 listener fired {other_calls[0]} times; expected 0 — "
@@ -565,18 +684,25 @@ def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_clears_catalog_and_fires_listener(
     )
 
 
-def test_reconnect_after_eviction_repopulates_catalog(
+def test_reconnect_after_eviction_corrects_catalog_drift(
     running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
 ) -> None:
-    """After eviction, the next ``_connect_one_pool`` re-populates the
-    catalog from the SDK by construction — no extra glue required.
+    """The retained catalog self-corrects at reconnect: the next
+    ``_connect_one_pool`` re-runs discovery and REPLACES the stale
+    snapshot — no extra glue required (#836).
+
+    Between eviction and reconnect the OLD names stay visible (that is
+    the point of retention — the model can still emit them, and the
+    dispatch that follows performs this reconnect); a name the server
+    dropped in the meantime dies at the server as a per-call error
+    while the refreshed catalog fans out.
 
     Verified by reverting the discovery block in ``_connect_one_pool``:
-    the reconnected entry's ``tools`` stays ``None`` and the user map
-    never re-emerges.
+    the reconnected entry keeps serving the stale ``tool_a`` and
+    ``tool_b`` never appears.
     """
     mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
-    # Sequence: first connect sees [tool_a]; eviction clears; second
+    # Sequence: first connect sees [tool_a]; the session dies; second
     # connect (after backend rotates) sees [tool_b].
     handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
         list_tools_seq=[
@@ -591,7 +717,9 @@ def test_reconnect_after_eviction_repopulates_catalog(
     assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__tool_a", user_id="user-1") is True
 
     mgr._evict_session(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
-    assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__tool_a", user_id="user-1") is False
+    # Retention: the stale snapshot keeps serving the live session
+    # until the reconnect refreshes it.
+    assert mgr.is_mcp_tool("mcp__pool-srv__tool_a", user_id="user-1") is True
 
     _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
     # Reconnect picked up the rotated catalog.
@@ -1555,17 +1683,14 @@ def test_refresh_pool_server_prompts_skips_when_capability_unset(
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-def test_eviction_clears_resource_and_prompt_catalogs_and_fires_listeners(
+def test_evict_session_keeps_resource_and_prompt_catalogs(
     running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
 ) -> None:
-    """``_evict_session`` clears ``entry.resources`` and ``entry.prompts``,
-    rebuilds both per-user maps (drops the now-empty entries), and
-    fires the matching user-keyed + admin listeners for ALL three
-    catalogs (tools, resources, prompts).
-
-    Negative-test: drop the resource/prompt cleanup additions in
-    ``_evict_session``: this test fails because the user-resource map
-    keeps the evicted URIs and no resource listener fires.
+    """``_evict_session`` retains ``entry.resources`` / ``entry.prompts``
+    and their per-user maps, firing NO listeners — symmetric with the
+    tool-catalog retention (#836). The revocation flavor
+    (``_evict_session_drop_catalog``) is what clears and notifies; see
+    the sibling test below.
     """
     mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
     handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
@@ -1604,15 +1729,81 @@ def test_eviction_clears_resource_and_prompt_catalogs_and_fires_listeners(
 
     mgr._evict_session(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
 
+    entry = mgr._user_pool_entries[("user-1", "pool-srv")]
+    assert entry.session is None
+    # All three catalogs retained.
+    assert entry.tools is not None
+    assert entry.resources is not None
+    assert entry.prompts is not None
+    # Per-user maps keep the entries.
+    assert "res://r/1" in (mgr._user_resource_map.get("user-1") or {})
+    assert "mcp__pool-srv__p1" in (mgr._user_prompt_map.get("user-1") or {})
+    # Nothing changed catalog-wise → NO fan-out for anyone.
+    assert res_calls[0] == 0
+    assert prompt_calls[0] == 0
+    assert other_res_calls[0] == 0, "unrelated user-2 resource listener fired — RFC §3.3 violation"
+    assert other_prompt_calls[0] == 0, "unrelated user-2 prompt listener fired — RFC §3.3 violation"
+
+
+def test_evict_user_session_clears_resource_and_prompt_catalogs(
+    running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """``_evict_session_drop_catalog`` (explicit revocation) clears
+    ``entry.resources`` / ``entry.prompts``, rebuilds both per-user
+    maps (drops the now-empty entries), and fires the matching
+    user-keyed listeners for resources and prompts.
+
+    Negative-test: drop the resource/prompt cleanup in
+    ``_evict_session_drop_catalog``: this test fails because the
+    user-resource map keeps the revoked URIs and no resource listener
+    fires.
+    """
+    mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+    handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
+        init_response=_init_response_with_caps(resources=True, prompts=True),
+        list_resources_response=_list_resources_payload([_resource_spec("res://r/1")]),
+        list_prompts_response=_list_prompts_payload([_prompt_spec("p1")]),
+    )
+    _build_mock_transport_factory(mgr, monkeypatch, handler)
+    _patch_tcp_probe(mgr, monkeypatch)
+
+    _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
+    assert "res://r/1" in (mgr._user_resource_map.get("user-1") or {})
+    assert "mcp__pool-srv__p1" in (mgr._user_prompt_map.get("user-1") or {})
+
+    res_calls = [0]
+    prompt_calls = [0]
+    other_res_calls = [0]
+    other_prompt_calls = [0]
+
+    def _user_res_cb() -> None:
+        res_calls[0] += 1
+
+    def _user_prompt_cb() -> None:
+        prompt_calls[0] += 1
+
+    def _other_res_cb() -> None:
+        other_res_calls[0] += 1
+
+    def _other_prompt_cb() -> None:
+        other_prompt_calls[0] += 1
+
+    mgr.add_resource_listener(_user_res_cb, user_id="user-1")
+    mgr.add_resource_listener(_other_res_cb, user_id="user-2")
+    mgr.add_prompt_listener(_user_prompt_cb, user_id="user-1")
+    mgr.add_prompt_listener(_other_prompt_cb, user_id="user-2")
+
+    mgr._evict_session_drop_catalog(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
+
     entry = mgr._user_pool_entries[("user-1", "pool-srv")]
     assert entry.session is None
     assert entry.tools is None
     assert entry.resources is None
     assert entry.prompts is None
-    # Per-user maps drop the evicted entries.
+    # Per-user maps drop the revoked entries.
     assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_resource_map
     assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_prompt_map
-    # Listeners fire for the evicted user but not for the unrelated user.
+    # Listeners fire for the revoked user but not for the unrelated user.
     assert res_calls[0] == 1
     assert prompt_calls[0] == 1
     assert other_res_calls[0] == 0, "unrelated user-2 resource listener fired — RFC §3.3 violation"
@@ -1623,8 +1814,13 @@ def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_clears_resource_and_prompt_catalogs(
     running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
 ) -> None:
     """LRU/TTL eviction (``_close_pool_entry_if_idle``) symmetric
-    cleanup for resources & prompts. Bug-pair to the tools-only
-    cleanup added in Phase 7 round-2."""
+    cleanup for resources & prompts on the FULL-DROP path. Bug-pair to
+    the tools-only cleanup added in Phase 7 round-2.
+
+    Deliberately registers NO user-1 TOOL listener: the user-scoped
+    tool listener is the liveness signal (#836) — resource/prompt
+    listeners alone do not mark a user live (every real ChatSession
+    registers the tool listener), so this drives the full drop."""
     mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
     handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
         init_response=_init_response_with_caps(resources=True, prompts=True),
@@ -1661,12 +1857,62 @@ def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_clears_resource_and_prompt_catalogs(
     assert prompt_calls[0] == 1
 
 
+def test_close_pool_entry_if_idle_cooling_keeps_resources_and_prompts(
+    running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """The cooled path retains resources & prompts symmetrically with
+    tools: a user-1 TOOL listener (the liveness signal, #836) makes
+    TTL/LRU eviction keep the entry, both per-user maps, and fire no
+    resource/prompt listener."""
+    mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+    handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
+        init_response=_init_response_with_caps(resources=True, prompts=True),
+        list_resources_response=_list_resources_payload([_resource_spec("res://r/1")]),
+        list_prompts_response=_list_prompts_payload([_prompt_spec("p1")]),
+    )
+    _build_mock_transport_factory(mgr, monkeypatch, handler)
+    _patch_tcp_probe(mgr, monkeypatch)
+
+    _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
+    key = ("user-1", "pool-srv")
+
+    res_calls = [0]
+    prompt_calls = [0]
+
+    def _res_cb() -> None:
+        res_calls[0] += 1
+
+    def _prompt_cb() -> None:
+        prompt_calls[0] += 1
+
+    # The TOOL listener marks user-1 live; the resource/prompt
+    # listeners observe (non-)fan-out.
+    mgr.add_listener(lambda: None, user_id="user-1")
+    mgr.add_resource_listener(_res_cb, user_id="user-1")
+    mgr.add_prompt_listener(_prompt_cb, user_id="user-1")
+
+    _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._close_pool_entry_if_idle(key))
+
+    # Entry cooled: transport gone, catalogs and maps intact.
+    entry = mgr._user_pool_entries.get(key)
+    assert entry is not None
+    assert entry.session is None
+    assert entry.resources is not None
+    assert entry.prompts is not None
+    assert "res://r/1" in (mgr._user_resource_map.get("user-1") or {})
+    assert "mcp__pool-srv__p1" in (mgr._user_prompt_map.get("user-1") or {})
+    # No fan-out — nothing changed catalog-wise.
+    assert res_calls[0] == 0
+    assert prompt_calls[0] == 0
+
+
 def test_reconnect_after_eviction_repopulates_resource_and_prompt_catalogs(
     running_loop_mgr: Any, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
 ) -> None:
-    """After eviction, the next ``_connect_one_pool`` re-populates the
-    resource and prompt catalogs from the SDK. Bug-class: an extra
-    glue layer would only repopulate tools."""
+    """After a session eviction the next ``_connect_one_pool`` REPLACES
+    the retained resource and prompt catalogs from the SDK — drift
+    self-corrects for all three catalogs, not just tools (#836).
+    Bug-class: an extra glue layer would only repopulate tools."""
     mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
     handler = _make_jsonrpc_handler(
         init_response=_init_response_with_caps(resources=True, prompts=True),
@@ -1687,8 +1933,9 @@ def test_reconnect_after_eviction_repopulates_resource_and_prompt_catalogs(
     assert "mcp__pool-srv__p_a" in (mgr._user_prompt_map.get("user-1") or {})
 
     mgr._evict_session(("user-1", "pool-srv"))
-    assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_resource_map
-    assert "user-1" not in mgr._user_prompt_map
+    # Retention: the stale snapshots keep serving until reconnect.
+    assert "res://a" in (mgr._user_resource_map.get("user-1") or {})
+    assert "mcp__pool-srv__p_a" in (mgr._user_prompt_map.get("user-1") or {})
 
     _connect_pool(mgr, loop, user_id="user-1", server_name="pool-srv")
     # New catalogs reflect the rotated payload.
diff --git a/tests/test_mcp_user_pool.py b/tests/test_mcp_user_pool.py
index cf9ff650..fbe9c974 100644
--- a/tests/test_mcp_user_pool.py
+++ b/tests/test_mcp_user_pool.py
@@ -400,6 +400,145 @@ class TestEviction:
         # All entries removed from the dict regardless.
         assert mgr._user_pool_entries == {}
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _fake_tools(server_name: str, i: int) -> list[dict]:
+        return [
+            {
+                "type": "function",
+                "function": {
+                    "name": f"mcp__{server_name}__t{i}",
+                    "description": "",
+                    "parameters": {"type": "object", "properties": {}},
+                },
+            }
+        ]
+
+    def test_idle_eviction_cools_entries_for_live_listener_users(self, running_loop_mgr) -> None:
+        """TTL eviction cools (retains) a live-listener user's
+        catalog-bearing entry and full-drops a listener-less user's —
+        the #836 split. A second tick must not disturb the cooled entry
+        (the already-cooled skip)."""
+        mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+        mgr._user_pool_idle_ttl_s = 0.0  # everything is stale
+
+        async def _seed() -> None:
+            for i in range(2):
+                entry = await mgr._ensure_pool_entry((f"u{i}", "pool-srv"))
+                entry.session = MagicMock()
+                entry.tools = self._fake_tools("pool-srv", i)
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, _seed())
+        # u0 has a live session (tool listener); u1 does not.
+        mgr.add_listener(lambda: None, user_id="u0")
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._evict_idle_pool_entries())
+
+        # u0: cooled — retained without a session, catalog intact.
+        cooled = mgr._user_pool_entries.get(("u0", "pool-srv"))
+        assert cooled is not None
+        assert cooled.session is None
+        assert cooled.tools is not None
+        # u1: full drop.
+        assert ("u1", "pool-srv") not in mgr._user_pool_entries
+
+        # Second tick: the cooled entry is skipped, not re-processed.
+        _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._evict_idle_pool_entries())
+        assert ("u0", "pool-srv") in mgr._user_pool_entries
+
+    def test_idle_eviction_drops_catalogless_stub_despite_live_listener(
+        self, running_loop_mgr
+    ) -> None:
+        """A cold, never-discovered stub (``_ensure_pool_entry``
+        allocated, connect failed before discovery) carries no catalog
+        worth retaining — TTL eviction drops it even for a live-listener
+        user, so revoke-cleared and connect-failed entries can't
+        accumulate as zombies behind an open session."""
+        mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+        mgr._user_pool_idle_ttl_s = 0.0
+
+        async def _seed() -> None:
+            await mgr._ensure_pool_entry(("u-stub", "pool-srv"))
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, _seed())
+        mgr.add_listener(lambda: None, user_id="u-stub")
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._evict_idle_pool_entries())
+        assert ("u-stub", "pool-srv") not in mgr._user_pool_entries
+
+    def test_lru_cap_ignores_cooled_entries(self, running_loop_mgr) -> None:
+        """The LRU cap bounds WARM entries (connection resources), not
+        cooled catalog-only ones — cooled entries neither count toward
+        the cap nor get evicted by it."""
+        mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+        mgr._user_pool_idle_ttl_s = 999_999.0  # TTL effectively disabled
+        mgr._user_pool_lru_max = 2
+
+        async def _seed() -> None:
+            base = time.monotonic()
+            # Three cooled entries (no session/owner, catalog present).
+            for i in range(3):
+                key = (f"cool{i}", "pool-srv")
+                entry = await mgr._ensure_pool_entry(key)
+                entry.tools = self._fake_tools("pool-srv", i)
+                entry.last_used = base + i
+                mgr._user_pool_last_used[key] = base + i
+            # Two warm entries, newer than the cooled ones.
+            for i in range(2):
+                key = (f"warm{i}", "pool-srv")
+                entry = await mgr._ensure_pool_entry(key)
+                entry.session = MagicMock()
+                entry.tools = self._fake_tools("pool-srv", 10 + i)
+                entry.last_used = base + 10 + i
+                mgr._user_pool_last_used[key] = base + 10 + i
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, _seed())
+        for i in range(3):
+            mgr.add_listener(lambda: None, user_id=f"cool{i}")
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._evict_idle_pool_entries())
+
+        # Warm count (2) is at the cap — nothing evicted, cooled
+        # entries (which would be "oldest" by last_used) untouched.
+        assert len(mgr._user_pool_entries) == 5
+        assert all((f"cool{i}", "pool-srv") in mgr._user_pool_entries for i in range(3))
+
+    def test_lru_cap_cools_live_listener_entries(self, running_loop_mgr) -> None:
+        """Over the cap, warm entries of live-listener users are COOLED
+        (transport closed, entry + catalog retained) oldest-first until
+        the warm count meets the cap — cap pressure must not reintroduce
+        the #836 tool loss for live sessions."""
+        mgr, loop, _ = running_loop_mgr
+        mgr._user_pool_idle_ttl_s = 999_999.0
+        mgr._user_pool_lru_max = 1
+
+        async def _seed() -> None:
+            base = time.monotonic()
+            for i in range(3):
+                key = (f"u{i}", "pool-srv")
+                entry = await mgr._ensure_pool_entry(key)
+                entry.session = MagicMock()
+                entry.tools = self._fake_tools("pool-srv", i)
+                entry.last_used = base + i
+                mgr._user_pool_last_used[key] = base + i
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, _seed())
+        for i in range(3):
+            mgr.add_listener(lambda: None, user_id=f"u{i}")
+
+        _run_on_loop(loop, mgr._evict_idle_pool_entries())
+
+        # All three entries survive with catalogs; only the newest is
+        # still warm.
+        assert len(mgr._user_pool_entries) == 3
+        warm = [
+            key
+            for key, e in mgr._user_pool_entries.items()
+            if e.session is not None or e.owner_task is not None
+        ]
+        assert warm == [("u2", "pool-srv")]
+        for i in range(3):
+            assert mgr._user_pool_entries[(f"u{i}", "pool-srv")].tools is not None
+
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Dispatch state machine
diff --git a/turnstone/core/mcp_client.py b/turnstone/core/mcp_client.py
index dbdac57f..6dd52040 100644
--- a/turnstone/core/mcp_client.py
+++ b/turnstone/core/mcp_client.py
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class MCPClientManager:
         # callers (ChatSession) never iterate ``_user_pool_entries``
         # concurrently with the mcp-loop's mutations of the same dict
         # (insert in ``_ensure_pool_entry`` / pop in
-        # ``_close_pool_entry_if_idle`` / ``_evict_session``).
+        # ``_close_pool_entry_if_idle`` / ``_evict_session_drop_catalog``).
         self._user_tools: dict[str, list[dict[str, Any]]] = {}
 
         # Per-user resource catalog. Mirrors ``_user_tool_map`` /
@@ -2965,12 +2965,61 @@ class MCPClientManager:
                 # — a transport-layer group must not kill the loop.
                 log.warning("MCP pool eviction iteration failed", exc_info=True)
 
+    def _user_has_live_listener(self, user_id: str) -> bool:
+        """True when *user_id* has a registered user-scoped tool listener.
+
+        A live listener means a live ChatSession whose merged tool list
+        is derived from this user's pool catalog — the signal the
+        eviction passes use to decide cool-vs-drop (#836). Admin
+        (``None``) listeners don't count: they track catalog state for
+        operator tooling, not a user's model-visible tool list.
+        """
+        with self._listeners_lock:
+            return any(uid == user_id for uid, _cb in self._listeners)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _entry_has_catalog(entry: PoolEntryState) -> bool:
+        """True when the entry carries a discovered catalog worth retaining.
+
+        Never-connected stubs (``_ensure_pool_entry`` allocated, connect
+        failed before discovery) and revoke-cleared entries
+        (:meth:`_evict_session_drop_catalog`) carry none — retaining
+        those serves nobody, so the eviction passes full-drop them even
+        when the user has a live session.
+        """
+        return entry.tools is not None or entry.resources is not None or entry.prompts is not None
+
+    def _warm_pool_count(self) -> int:
+        """Count pool entries still holding connection resources.
+
+        Warm = an open session OR a live owner task (an owner parked
+        after ``_evict_session`` still holds the transport until the
+        close protocol runs). Cooled catalog-only entries hold neither.
+        """
+        return sum(
+            1
+            for e in self._user_pool_entries.values()
+            if e.session is not None or e.owner_task is not None
+        )
+
     async def _evict_idle_pool_entries(self) -> None:
         """Evict pool entries past the idle TTL or above the LRU cap.
 
         Skips any key whose ``open_lock`` is currently held or whose
         ``in_flight`` counter is non-zero — eviction never blocks on a
         contested lock or an active dispatch; the next tick retries.
+
+        Both passes close TRANSPORTS. Whether the ENTRY (and with it the
+        user's catalog contribution) survives is decided per user in
+        :meth:`_close_pool_entry_if_idle`: a user with a live session
+        keeps a cooled catalog-only entry so their model-visible tool
+        list never silently shrinks (#836); a user without one gets the
+        full drop. The LRU cap therefore bounds WARM entries — the
+        connection resources (transport, httpx client, owner task) are
+        what the cap exists to limit. Cooled entries hold none of
+        those; they are bounded by live-session users × pool servers
+        and reaped by the TTL pass within a tick of their user's last
+        listener going away.
         """
         if not self._user_pool_entries:
             return
@@ -2982,37 +3031,70 @@ class MCPClientManager:
         ttl_targets: list[tuple[str, str]] = []
         for key, entry in list(self._user_pool_entries.items()):
             last = self._user_pool_last_used.get(key, entry.last_used)
-            if (now - last) >= ttl:
-                ttl_targets.append(key)
+            if (now - last) < ttl:
+                continue
+            if (
+                entry.session is None
+                and entry.owner_task is None
+                and self._entry_has_catalog(entry)
+                and self._user_has_live_listener(key[0])
+            ):
+                # Already cooled — nothing to close. Retained for the
+                # live session's tool list; the tick after that user's
+                # last listener is removed, this stops matching and the
+                # entry takes the full-drop path below.
+                continue
+            ttl_targets.append(key)
         if ttl_targets:
             await asyncio.gather(
                 *(self._close_pool_entry_if_idle(k) for k in ttl_targets),
                 return_exceptions=True,
             )
 
-        # Second pass: LRU cap. Iterate the canonical entry map (not the
-        # last_used view) so brand-new entries that were created via
-        # ``_ensure_pool_entry`` but haven't dispatched yet are still
-        # eviction-eligible.
-        if len(self._user_pool_entries) <= self._user_pool_lru_max:
+        # Second pass: LRU cap over warm entries. Iterate the canonical
+        # entry map (not the last_used view) so brand-new entries that
+        # were created via ``_ensure_pool_entry`` but haven't dispatched
+        # yet are still eviction-eligible.
+        warm = [
+            (key, entry)
+            for key, entry in self._user_pool_entries.items()
+            if entry.session is not None or entry.owner_task is not None
+        ]
+        if len(warm) <= self._user_pool_lru_max:
             return
         ordered = sorted(
-            self._user_pool_entries.items(),
+            warm,
             key=lambda kv: self._user_pool_last_used.get(kv[0], kv[1].last_used),
         )
         # Compute the eviction batch up front; we re-check the cap after
         # each close (in-flight skips can leave us still over).
         for key, _entry in ordered:
-            if len(self._user_pool_entries) <= self._user_pool_lru_max:
+            if self._warm_pool_count() <= self._user_pool_lru_max:
                 break
             await self._close_pool_entry_if_idle(key)
 
     async def _close_pool_entry_if_idle(self, key: tuple[str, str]) -> None:
-        """Close ``key`` iff its open_lock is uncontested AND in_flight==0.
+        """Close ``key``'s transport iff its open_lock is uncontested AND in_flight==0.
 
         Best-effort: a contested lock or an active dispatch causes the
         function to return without mutation; the next eviction tick
         retries.
+
+        What happens to the ENTRY depends on whether the user still has
+        a live session (:meth:`_user_has_live_listener`) and the entry
+        carries a discovered catalog (:meth:`_entry_has_catalog`):
+
+        - live listener + catalog → the entry is COOLED: transport torn down,
+          catalog kept, no rebuild, no listener fan-out. The user's
+          merged tool list is untouched and the next dispatch or prime
+          reconnects — the evict-session-keep-entry shape of
+          ``_on_pool_owner_death``. Dropping the catalog here instead
+          silently removed the server's tools from live sessions with
+          no re-prime path (#836).
+        - otherwise → full drop: entry popped, per-user catalogs
+          rebuilt, listeners notified (reaching only admin/``None``
+          listeners — operator tooling tracking catalog state). This
+          keeps departed users' entries from outliving their sessions.
         """
         entry = self._user_pool_entries.get(key)
         if entry is None:
@@ -3043,16 +3125,26 @@ class MCPClientManager:
             if entry.in_flight > 0:
                 return
             await self._teardown_pool_entry(key)
-            self._user_pool_entries.pop(key, None)
-            self._user_pool_last_used.pop(key, None)
-            # Mirror ``_evict_session``'s catalog cleanup: dropping the
-            # entry without rebuilding the per-user catalogs would leave
-            # ``is_mcp_tool`` / per-user resource & prompt maps returning
-            # stale entries whose backing pool is gone, and ChatSession's
-            # tool / resource / prompt lists would never rebuild because
-            # no listener fires.
+            # Prune the push-notification debounce stamp with the
+            # transport either way — a future reconnect's first
+            # ``list_changed`` must refresh immediately.
             self._last_pool_notification_refresh.pop(key, None)
             user_id, _server_name = key
+            if self._entry_has_catalog(entry) and self._user_has_live_listener(user_id):
+                # Cooled: entry + catalog stay, so the live session's
+                # tool list and ``is_mcp_tool`` are untouched. Nothing
+                # changed catalog-wise → no rebuild, no fan-out. The
+                # entry's ``open_lock`` must survive with it (an
+                # in-flight dispatcher's next acquire needs the same
+                # lock object), so skip the ``evicted`` cleanup too.
+                return
+            self._user_pool_entries.pop(key, None)
+            self._user_pool_last_used.pop(key, None)
+            # Dropping the entry without rebuilding the per-user
+            # catalogs would leave ``is_mcp_tool`` / per-user resource &
+            # prompt maps returning stale entries whose backing pool is
+            # gone for good (this user has no live session left to
+            # re-warm it lazily).
             self._rebuild_user_tool_map(user_id)
             self._rebuild_user_resource_map(user_id)
             self._rebuild_user_prompt_map(user_id)
@@ -6573,7 +6665,7 @@ class MCPClientManager:
         return _decode_prompt_result(sdk_result)
 
     def _evict_session(self, key: tuple[str, str]) -> None:
-        """Drop the cached session AND catalog on a pool entry.
+        """Drop the cached session on a pool entry; KEEP the catalog.
 
         Owner/streams left for reconnect. Auth/transport branches both call
         this — the next connect's ``_connect_one_pool`` tears down the stale
@@ -6584,39 +6676,63 @@ class MCPClientManager:
         following reconnect is reaped by idle eviction, which drives the same
         protocol.
 
-        Catalog cleanup (Phase 7 / 7b): clearing ``entry.tools`` /
-        ``entry.resources`` / ``entry.prompts`` here ensures an
-        evicted-then-not-yet-reconnected entry contributes no stale
-        entries to ``_user_tool_map`` / ``_user_resource_map`` /
-        ``_user_prompt_map``. Without this, ``is_mcp_tool`` /
-        ``is_mcp_prompt`` / pool resource resolution could return True
-        for names whose backing pool is gone, then the resolver would
-        dispatch into a session-less entry and the next call would
-        surface as a generic transport error instead of a clean
-        reconnect path.
+        The catalog (``entry.tools`` / ``resources`` / ``prompts``) is
+        deliberately RETAINED — the evict-session-keep-entry shape of
+        ``_on_pool_owner_death`` (#836). Clearing it here removed the
+        server's tools from the user's live sessions on the first failed
+        dispatch (a transport blip, a 403, a double-401): the per-user
+        maps rebuilt empty, the session-side ``is_mcp_tool`` gate
+        closed, and with no re-prime path for a live session the tools
+        never came back — which also made the breaker's half-open
+        recovery and the consent / step-up cards unreachable (the model
+        could no longer emit the name they need to fire). A session-less
+        entry stays fully dispatchable: tool-name resolution never reads
+        the catalog (``_resolve_pool_target`` is name + server-row
+        based) and ``_dispatch_pool_with_entry`` connect-or-reuses,
+        re-running discovery — post-reconnect drift self-corrects and
+        the catalog-refresh notification fans out then.
         """
         evict = self._user_pool_entries.get(key)
         if evict is not None:
             evict.session = None
-            evict.tools = None
-            evict.resources = None
-            evict.prompts = None
-            # Prune the debounce stamp in lockstep with the entry — the
-            # dict grows otherwise (slow leak) across (user, server)
-            # churn. Mirrors the cleanup in ``_close_pool_entry_if_idle``.
+            # Prune the push-notification debounce stamp so a
+            # reconnect's first ``list_changed`` refreshes immediately.
             self._last_pool_notification_refresh.pop(key, None)
-            user_id, _server_name = key
-            self._rebuild_user_tool_map(user_id)
-            self._rebuild_user_resource_map(user_id)
-            self._rebuild_user_prompt_map(user_id)
-            # Wake the user's session so its merged tool / resource /
-            # prompt lists shrink back to static-only until the next
-            # connect populates the entry. Admin (None) listeners also
-            # fire — operator tooling tracking pool catalog state
-            # observes the drop.
-            self._notify_user_tool_listeners(user_id)
-            self._notify_user_resource_listeners(user_id)
-            self._notify_user_prompt_listeners(user_id)
+
+    def _evict_session_drop_catalog(self, key: tuple[str, str]) -> None:
+        """Drop the cached session AND the entry's catalog contribution.
+
+        The explicit-revocation flavor of :meth:`_evict_session`, used
+        by :meth:`evict_user_session` (the OAuth disconnect handler):
+        the user asked for the server to be disconnected, so their live
+        sessions SHOULD see the tools leave — the opposite of the
+        dispatch-failure paths, where the catalog is retained (#836).
+        Clearing the catalog also makes the eviction passes treat the
+        entry as a droppable stub (``_entry_has_catalog`` is False), so
+        it doesn't linger cooled behind a live listener.
+
+        Owner/streams left for reconnect teardown exactly as in
+        :meth:`_evict_session` (the one-cancel close protocol).
+        """
+        evict = self._user_pool_entries.get(key)
+        if evict is None:
+            return
+        evict.session = None
+        evict.tools = None
+        evict.resources = None
+        evict.prompts = None
+        self._last_pool_notification_refresh.pop(key, None)
+        user_id, _server_name = key
+        self._rebuild_user_tool_map(user_id)
+        self._rebuild_user_resource_map(user_id)
+        self._rebuild_user_prompt_map(user_id)
+        # Wake the user's sessions so their merged tool / resource /
+        # prompt lists shrink now, not at the next turn boundary. Admin
+        # (None) listeners also fire — operator tooling tracking pool
+        # catalog state observes the drop.
+        self._notify_user_tool_listeners(user_id)
+        self._notify_user_resource_listeners(user_id)
+        self._notify_user_prompt_listeners(user_id)
 
     async def _handle_auth_403(
         self,
@@ -7073,22 +7189,24 @@ class MCPClientManager:
         return _decode_prompt_result(result)
 
     def evict_user_session(self, user_id: str, server_name: str) -> None:
-        """Drop the cached pool session for ``(user_id, server_name)``.
+        """Drop the cached pool session AND catalog for ``(user_id, server_name)``.
 
-        Sync entry point for callers (e.g. the OAuth revoke handler)
-        that mutate token state from outside the mcp-loop and need the
-        next dispatch to reconnect with fresh credentials. Idempotent —
+        Sync entry point for the OAuth revoke handler: the user
+        explicitly disconnected the server, so the session is dropped
+        and — unlike the dispatch-failure eviction (#836) — the user's
+        catalog view of the server is removed and their live sessions
+        notified (:meth:`_evict_session_drop_catalog`). Idempotent —
         a missing key is a silent no-op. Fire-and-forget: schedules
-        :meth:`_evict_session` on the mcp-loop and returns immediately
-        without waiting for the future. Best-effort: a closed loop or
-        scheduling failure logs at info level; never raises.
+        onto the mcp-loop and returns immediately without waiting for
+        the future. Best-effort: a closed loop or scheduling failure
+        logs at info level; never raises.
         """
         if self._loop is None:
             return
         key = (user_id, server_name)
 
         async def _do_evict() -> None:
-            self._evict_session(key)
+            self._evict_session_drop_catalog(key)
 
         try:
             asyncio.run_coroutine_threadsafe(_do_evict(), self._loop)