diff --git a/internal/session/manager.go b/internal/session/manager.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..83981b6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/session/manager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+// Package session provides polecat session lifecycle management.
+package session
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/tmux"
+)
+
+// Common errors
+var (
+	ErrSessionRunning  = errors.New("session already running")
+	ErrSessionNotFound = errors.New("session not found")
+	ErrPolecatNotFound = errors.New("polecat not found")
+)
+
+// Manager handles polecat session lifecycle.
+type Manager struct {
+	tmux *tmux.Tmux
+	rig  *rig.Rig
+}
+
+// NewManager creates a new session manager for a rig.
+func NewManager(t *tmux.Tmux, r *rig.Rig) *Manager {
+	return &Manager{
+		tmux: t,
+		rig:  r,
+	}
+}
+
+// StartOptions configures session startup.
+type StartOptions struct {
+	// WorkDir overrides the default working directory (polecat clone dir).
+	WorkDir string
+
+	// Issue is an optional issue ID to work on.
+	Issue string
+
+	// Command overrides the default "claude" command.
+	Command string
+}
+
+// Info contains information about a running session.
+type Info struct {
+	// Polecat is the polecat name.
+	Polecat string `json:"polecat"`
+
+	// SessionID is the tmux session identifier.
+	SessionID string `json:"session_id"`
+
+	// Running indicates if the session is currently active.
+	Running bool `json:"running"`
+
+	// RigName is the rig this session belongs to.
+	RigName string `json:"rig_name"`
+}
+
+// sessionName generates the tmux session name for a polecat.
+func (m *Manager) sessionName(polecat string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("gt-%s-%s", m.rig.Name, polecat)
+}
+
+// polecatDir returns the working directory for a polecat.
+func (m *Manager) polecatDir(polecat string) string {
+	return filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, "polecats", polecat)
+}
+
+// hasPolecat checks if the polecat exists in this rig.
+func (m *Manager) hasPolecat(polecat string) bool {
+	for _, p := range m.rig.Polecats {
+		if p == polecat {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// Start creates and starts a new session for a polecat.
+func (m *Manager) Start(polecat string, opts StartOptions) error {
+	if !m.hasPolecat(polecat) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrPolecatNotFound, polecat)
+	}
+
+	sessionID := m.sessionName(polecat)
+
+	// Check if session already exists
+	running, err := m.tmux.HasSession(sessionID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking session: %w", err)
+	}
+	if running {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s", ErrSessionRunning, sessionID)
+	}
+
+	// Determine working directory
+	workDir := opts.WorkDir
+	if workDir == "" {
+		workDir = m.polecatDir(polecat)
+	}
+
+	// Create session
+	if err := m.tmux.NewSession(sessionID, workDir); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating session: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Set environment
+	m.tmux.SetEnvironment(sessionID, "GT_RIG", m.rig.Name)
+	m.tmux.SetEnvironment(sessionID, "GT_POLECAT", polecat)
+
+	// Send initial command
+	command := opts.Command
+	if command == "" {
+		command = "claude"
+	}
+	if err := m.tmux.SendKeys(sessionID, command); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("sending command: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// If issue specified, wait a bit then inject it
+	if opts.Issue != "" {
+		time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+		prompt := fmt.Sprintf("Work on issue: %s", opts.Issue)
+		if err := m.Inject(polecat, prompt); err != nil {
+			// Non-fatal, just log
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Stop terminates a polecat session.
+func (m *Manager) Stop(polecat string) error {
+	sessionID := m.sessionName(polecat)
+
+	// Check if session exists
+	running, err := m.tmux.HasSession(sessionID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking session: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !running {
+		return ErrSessionNotFound
+	}
+
+	// Try graceful shutdown first
+	m.tmux.SendKeysRaw(sessionID, "C-c") // Ctrl+C
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	// Kill the session
+	if err := m.tmux.KillSession(sessionID); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("killing session: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// IsRunning checks if a polecat session is active.
+func (m *Manager) IsRunning(polecat string) (bool, error) {
+	sessionID := m.sessionName(polecat)
+	return m.tmux.HasSession(sessionID)
+}
+
+// List returns information about all sessions for this rig.
+func (m *Manager) List() ([]Info, error) {
+	sessions, err := m.tmux.ListSessions()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	prefix := fmt.Sprintf("gt-%s-", m.rig.Name)
+	var infos []Info
+
+	for _, sessionID := range sessions {
+		if !strings.HasPrefix(sessionID, prefix) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		polecat := strings.TrimPrefix(sessionID, prefix)
+		infos = append(infos, Info{
+			Polecat:   polecat,
+			SessionID: sessionID,
+			Running:   true,
+			RigName:   m.rig.Name,
+		})
+	}
+
+	return infos, nil
+}
+
+// Attach attaches to a polecat session.
+func (m *Manager) Attach(polecat string) error {
+	sessionID := m.sessionName(polecat)
+
+	running, err := m.tmux.HasSession(sessionID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking session: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !running {
+		return ErrSessionNotFound
+	}
+
+	return m.tmux.AttachSession(sessionID)
+}
+
+// Capture returns the recent output from a polecat session.
+func (m *Manager) Capture(polecat string, lines int) (string, error) {
+	sessionID := m.sessionName(polecat)
+
+	running, err := m.tmux.HasSession(sessionID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("checking session: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !running {
+		return "", ErrSessionNotFound
+	}
+
+	return m.tmux.CapturePane(sessionID, lines)
+}
+
+// Inject sends a message to a polecat session.
+func (m *Manager) Inject(polecat, message string) error {
+	sessionID := m.sessionName(polecat)
+
+	running, err := m.tmux.HasSession(sessionID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("checking session: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !running {
+		return ErrSessionNotFound
+	}
+
+	return m.tmux.SendKeys(sessionID, message)
+}
+
+// StopAll terminates all sessions for this rig.
+func (m *Manager) StopAll() error {
+	infos, err := m.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	var lastErr error
+	for _, info := range infos {
+		if err := m.Stop(info.Polecat); err != nil {
+			lastErr = err
+		}
+	}
+
+	return lastErr
+}
diff --git a/internal/session/manager_test.go b/internal/session/manager_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8f98c7c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/session/manager_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+package session
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/rig"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/tmux"
+)
+
+func TestSessionName(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "gastown",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	name := m.sessionName("Toast")
+	if name != "gt-gastown-Toast" {
+		t.Errorf("sessionName = %q, want gt-gastown-Toast", name)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPolecatDir(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "gastown",
+		Path:     "/home/user/ai/gastown",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	dir := m.polecatDir("Toast")
+	expected := "/home/user/ai/gastown/polecats/Toast"
+	if dir != expected {
+		t.Errorf("polecatDir = %q, want %q", dir, expected)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHasPolecat(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "gastown",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast", "Cheedo"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	if !m.hasPolecat("Toast") {
+		t.Error("expected hasPolecat(Toast) = true")
+	}
+	if !m.hasPolecat("Cheedo") {
+		t.Error("expected hasPolecat(Cheedo) = true")
+	}
+	if m.hasPolecat("Unknown") {
+		t.Error("expected hasPolecat(Unknown) = false")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStartPolecatNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "gastown",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	err := m.Start("Unknown", StartOptions{})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected error for unknown polecat")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsRunningNoSession(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "gastown",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	running, err := m.IsRunning("Toast")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("IsRunning: %v", err)
+	}
+	if running {
+		t.Error("expected IsRunning = false for non-existent session")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestListEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "test-rig-unlikely-name",
+		Polecats: []string{},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	infos, err := m.List()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("List: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(infos) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("infos count = %d, want 0", len(infos))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestStopNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "test-rig",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	err := m.Stop("Toast")
+	if err != ErrSessionNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("Stop = %v, want ErrSessionNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCaptureNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "test-rig",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	_, err := m.Capture("Toast", 50)
+	if err != ErrSessionNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("Capture = %v, want ErrSessionNotFound", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInjectNotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	r := &rig.Rig{
+		Name:     "test-rig",
+		Polecats: []string{"Toast"},
+	}
+	m := NewManager(tmux.NewTmux(), r)
+
+	err := m.Inject("Toast", "hello")
+	if err != ErrSessionNotFound {
+		t.Errorf("Inject = %v, want ErrSessionNotFound", err)
+	}
+}