diff --git a/internal/cmd/sling.go b/internal/cmd/sling.go
index 22098d20..ddd77ce9 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/sling.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/sling.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
@@ -253,7 +254,37 @@ func runSling(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			var targetWorkDir string
 			targetAgent, targetPane, targetWorkDir, err = resolveTargetAgent(target)
 			if err != nil {
-				return fmt.Errorf("resolving target: %w", err)
+				// Check if this is a dead polecat (no active session)
+				// If so, spawn a fresh polecat instead of failing
+				if isPolecatTarget(target) {
+					// Extract rig name from polecat target (format: rig/polecats/name)
+					parts := strings.Split(target, "/")
+					if len(parts) >= 3 && parts[1] == "polecats" {
+						rigName := parts[0]
+						fmt.Printf("Target polecat has no active session, spawning fresh polecat in rig '%s'...\n", rigName)
+						spawnOpts := SlingSpawnOptions{
+							Force:    slingForce,
+							Account:  slingAccount,
+							Create:   slingCreate,
+							HookBead: beadID,
+							Agent:    slingAgent,
+						}
+						spawnInfo, spawnErr := SpawnPolecatForSling(rigName, spawnOpts)
+						if spawnErr != nil {
+							return fmt.Errorf("spawning polecat to replace dead polecat: %w", spawnErr)
+						}
+						targetAgent = spawnInfo.AgentID()
+						targetPane = spawnInfo.Pane
+						hookWorkDir = spawnInfo.ClonePath
+
+						// Wake witness and refinery to monitor the new polecat
+						wakeRigAgents(rigName)
+					} else {
+						return fmt.Errorf("resolving target: %w", err)
+					}
+				} else {
+					return fmt.Errorf("resolving target: %w", err)
+				}
 			}
 			// Use target's working directory for bd commands (needed for redirect-based routing)
 			if targetWorkDir != "" {
@@ -422,6 +453,15 @@ func runSling(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	// Update agent bead's hook_bead field (ZFC: agents track their current work)
 	updateAgentHookBead(targetAgent, beadID, hookWorkDir, townBeadsDir)
 
+	// Auto-attach mol-polecat-work to polecat agent beads
+	// This ensures polecats have the standard work molecule attached for guidance
+	if strings.Contains(targetAgent, "/polecats/") {
+		if err := attachPolecatWorkMolecule(targetAgent, hookWorkDir, townRoot); err != nil {
+			// Warn but don't fail - polecat will still work without molecule
+			fmt.Printf("%s Could not attach work molecule: %v\n", style.Dim.Render("Warning:"), err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Store dispatcher in bead description (enables completion notification to dispatcher)
 	if err := storeDispatcherInBead(beadID, actor); err != nil {
 		// Warn but don't fail - polecat will still complete work
diff --git a/internal/cmd/sling_batch.go b/internal/cmd/sling_batch.go
index 8d941d95..1dc4f64a 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/sling_batch.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/sling_batch.go
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ func runBatchSling(beadIDs []string, rigName string, townBeadsDir string) error
 		// Update agent bead state
 		updateAgentHookBead(targetAgent, beadID, hookWorkDir, townBeadsDir)
 
+		// Auto-attach mol-polecat-work molecule to polecat agent bead
+		if err := attachPolecatWorkMolecule(targetAgent, hookWorkDir, townRoot); err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("  %s Could not attach work molecule: %v\n", style.Dim.Render("Warning:"), err)
+		}
+
 		// Store args if provided
 		if slingArgs != "" {
 			if err := storeArgsInBead(beadID, slingArgs); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go b/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go
index 1afd6840..ae4092d1 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/sling_helpers.go
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/config"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/constants"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/style"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/tmux"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/workspace"
 )
@@ -373,3 +375,67 @@ func wakeRigAgents(rigName string) {
 	_ = t.NudgeSession(witnessSession, "Polecat dispatched - check for work")
 	_ = t.NudgeSession(refinerySession, "Polecat dispatched - check for merge requests")
 }
+
+// isPolecatTarget checks if the target string refers to a polecat.
+// Returns true if the target format is "rig/polecats/name".
+// This is used to determine if we should respawn a dead polecat
+// instead of failing when slinging work.
+func isPolecatTarget(target string) bool {
+	parts := strings.Split(target, "/")
+	return len(parts) >= 3 && parts[1] == "polecats"
+}
+
+// attachPolecatWorkMolecule attaches the mol-polecat-work molecule to a polecat's agent bead.
+// This ensures all polecats have the standard work molecule attached for guidance.
+// The molecule is attached by storing it in the agent bead's description using attachment fields.
+//
+// Per issue #288: gt sling should auto-attach mol-polecat-work when slinging to polecats.
+func attachPolecatWorkMolecule(targetAgent, hookWorkDir, townRoot string) error {
+	// Parse the polecat name from targetAgent (format: "rig/polecats/name")
+	parts := strings.Split(targetAgent, "/")
+	if len(parts) != 3 || parts[1] != "polecats" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid polecat agent format: %s", targetAgent)
+	}
+	rigName := parts[0]
+	polecatName := parts[2]
+
+	// Get the polecat's agent bead ID
+	// Format: "<prefix>-<rig>-polecat-<name>" (e.g., "gt-gastown-polecat-Toast")
+	prefix := config.GetRigPrefix(townRoot, rigName)
+	agentBeadID := beads.PolecatBeadIDWithPrefix(prefix, rigName, polecatName)
+
+	// Resolve the rig directory for running bd commands.
+	// Use ResolveHookDir to ensure we run bd from the correct rig directory
+	// (not from the polecat's worktree, which doesn't have a .beads directory).
+	// This fixes issue #197: polecat fails to hook when slinging with molecule.
+	rigDir := beads.ResolveHookDir(townRoot, prefix+"-"+polecatName, hookWorkDir)
+
+	b := beads.New(rigDir)
+
+	// Check if molecule is already attached (avoid duplicate attach)
+	attachment, err := b.GetAttachment(agentBeadID)
+	if err == nil && attachment != nil && attachment.AttachedMolecule != "" {
+		// Already has a molecule attached - skip
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Cook the mol-polecat-work formula to ensure the proto exists
+	// This is safe to run multiple times - cooking is idempotent
+	cookCmd := exec.Command("bd", "--no-daemon", "cook", "mol-polecat-work")
+	cookCmd.Dir = rigDir
+	cookCmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	if err := cookCmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cooking mol-polecat-work formula: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Attach the molecule to the polecat's agent bead
+	// The molecule ID is the formula name "mol-polecat-work"
+	moleculeID := "mol-polecat-work"
+	_, err = b.AttachMolecule(agentBeadID, moleculeID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("attaching molecule %s to %s: %w", moleculeID, agentBeadID, err)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("%s Attached %s to %s\n", style.Bold.Render("✓"), moleculeID, agentBeadID)
+	return nil
+}