diff --git a/UI/BagFrame.lua b/UI/BagFrame.lua
index e9b063b..69c0575 100644
--- a/UI/BagFrame.lua
+++ b/UI/BagFrame.lua
@@ -375,9 +375,55 @@ function BagFrame:UpdateChangedSlots(bagID)
     local isCategoryView = (viewType == "category")
 
     if isCategoryView then
-        -- Category view: always do full redraw since items may change categories
-        return -1
-    else
+        -- In Category View: update slots that HAVE button mappings in-place
+        -- AND check for NEW items that arrived in slots without buttons
+        local updatedCount = 0
+        for slotID, targetButton in pairs(slotToButton[bagID]) do
+            local currentLink = GetContainerItemLink(bagID, slotID)
+            local cachedLink = targetButton.itemData and targetButton.itemData.link or nil
+
+            local needsUpdate = false
+            if currentLink ~= cachedLink then
+                needsUpdate = true
+            elseif currentLink then
+                local _, currentCount = GetContainerItemInfo(bagID, slotID)
+                local cachedCount = targetButton.itemData and targetButton.itemData.count or 0
+                if currentCount ~= cachedCount then
+                    needsUpdate = true
+                end
+            end
+
+            if needsUpdate then
+                addon:DebugCategory("  bag %d slot %d: needs update (had=%s, now=%s)", bagID, slotID,
+                    cachedLink and "item" or "empty", currentLink and "item" or "empty")
+                if self:UpdateSingleSlot(bagID, slotID, targetButton) then
+                    updatedCount = updatedCount + 1
+                else
+                    addon:DebugCategory("  bag %d slot %d: UpdateSingleSlot failed -> full redraw", bagID, slotID)
+                    return -1
+                end
+            end
+        end
+
+        -- CRITICAL: Check for NEW items that arrived in slots WITHOUT button mappings
+        -- Category View only has buttons for filled slots, so new items need full redraw
+        local numSlots = GetContainerNumSlots(bagID)
+        if numSlots and numSlots > 0 then
+            for checkSlotID = 1, numSlots do
+                local hasButton = slotToButton[bagID][checkSlotID] or slotToButton[bagID][tostring(checkSlotID)]
+                if not hasButton then
+                    local currentLink = GetContainerItemLink(bagID, checkSlotID)
+                    if currentLink then
+                        addon:DebugCategory("  bag %d slot %d: NEW item arrived (no button) -> full redraw", bagID, checkSlotID)
+                        return -1  -- Trigger full redraw to categorize new item
+                    end
+                end
+            end
+        end
+
+        addon:DebugCategory("UpdateChangedSlots (category): bag=%d, success, updated %d slots", bagID, updatedCount)
+        return updatedCount
+    elseif not isCategoryView then
         -- In Single View: check all slots
         local numSlots = GetContainerNumSlots(bagID)
         if not numSlots or numSlots == 0 then return -1 end
diff --git a/UI/BankFrame.lua b/UI/BankFrame.lua
index 3c189b8..b376b81 100644
--- a/UI/BankFrame.lua
+++ b/UI/BankFrame.lua
@@ -2276,6 +2276,7 @@ function BankFrame:Initialize()
         local viewType = addon.Modules.DB:GetSetting("bankViewType") or "single"
         if viewType == "category" then
             -- Only update lock visual states, don't trigger full redraw
+            -- (pseudo empty placeholders would be destroyed by full redraw)
             BankFrame:UpdateLockStates()
             return
         end
@@ -2336,6 +2337,10 @@ function BankFrame:Initialize()
                             addon:DebugCategory("  -> slot emptied, incremental update done, no full redraw needed")
                         else
                             addon:DebugCategory("  -> item added, incremental update done")
+                            -- Safety-net: item appeared, verify with full redraw in category view
+                            if viewType == "category" then
+                                ScheduleBankFrameUpdate(0.3)
+                            end
                         end
                         return
                     end
@@ -2410,8 +2415,9 @@ function BankFrame:Initialize()
                         -- The cache will be updated on next full redraw if needed
                         return
                     elseif realItems == cacheItems then
-                        -- No change in item count - might be item swap, skip update
-                        addon:DebugCategory("  -> item count unchanged (%d), skipping", realItems)
+                        -- No change in item count - might be item swap or stale data
+                        addon:DebugCategory("  -> item count unchanged (%d), scheduling safety-net redraw", realItems)
+                        ScheduleBankFrameUpdate(0.3)
                         return
                     end
                     -- Items were added - need full redraw
@@ -2444,6 +2450,13 @@ function BankFrame:Initialize()
                     if result >= 0 then
                         -- Incremental update succeeded - no need for full redraw for THIS bag
                         -- But don't cancel pending redraws - other changes might need them
+                        -- Safety-net for category view when items were added (result > 0 = slots changed)
+                        if result > 0 then
+                            local catViewType = addon.Modules.DB:GetSetting("bankViewType") or "single"
+                            if catViewType == "category" then
+                                ScheduleBankFrameUpdate(0.3)
+                            end
+                        end
                         return
                     end
                     -- Fall through to full redraw