diff --git a/internal/daemon/daemon.go b/internal/daemon/daemon.go
index 3de04256..1cae0121 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/daemon.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/daemon.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/polecat"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/tmux"
 )
 
@@ -119,7 +120,12 @@ func (d *Daemon) heartbeat(state *State) {
 	// 2. Send heartbeat to Deacon (simple notification, no decision-making)
 	d.pokeDeacon()
 
-	// 3. Process lifecycle requests
+	// 3. Trigger pending polecat spawns (bootstrap mode - ZFC violation acceptable)
+	// This ensures polecats get nudged even when Deacon isn't in a patrol cycle.
+	// Uses regex-based WaitForClaudeReady, which is acceptable for daemon bootstrap.
+	d.triggerPendingSpawns()
+
+	// 4. Process lifecycle requests
 	d.processLifecycleRequests()
 
 	// Update state
@@ -258,6 +264,55 @@ func (d *Daemon) pokeDeacon() {
 // The Deacon molecule is responsible for monitoring Mayor and Witnesses.
 // The daemon only ensures Deacon is running and sends it heartbeats.
 
+// triggerPendingSpawns polls pending polecat spawns and triggers those that are ready.
+// This is bootstrap mode - uses regex-based WaitForClaudeReady which is acceptable
+// for daemon operations when no AI agent is guaranteed to be running.
+// The timeout is short (2s) to avoid blocking the heartbeat.
+func (d *Daemon) triggerPendingSpawns() {
+	const triggerTimeout = 2 * time.Second
+
+	// Check for pending spawns (from POLECAT_STARTED messages in Deacon inbox)
+	pending, err := polecat.CheckInboxForSpawns(d.config.TownRoot)
+	if err != nil {
+		d.logger.Printf("Error checking pending spawns: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if len(pending) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
+	d.logger.Printf("Found %d pending spawn(s), attempting to trigger...", len(pending))
+
+	// Trigger pending spawns (uses WaitForClaudeReady with short timeout)
+	results, err := polecat.TriggerPendingSpawns(d.config.TownRoot, triggerTimeout)
+	if err != nil {
+		d.logger.Printf("Error triggering spawns: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// Log results
+	triggered := 0
+	for _, r := range results {
+		if r.Triggered {
+			triggered++
+			d.logger.Printf("Triggered polecat: %s/%s", r.Spawn.Rig, r.Spawn.Polecat)
+		} else if r.Error != nil {
+			d.logger.Printf("Error triggering %s: %v", r.Spawn.Session, r.Error)
+		}
+	}
+
+	if triggered > 0 {
+		d.logger.Printf("Triggered %d/%d pending spawn(s)", triggered, len(pending))
+	}
+
+	// Prune stale pending spawns (older than 5 minutes - likely dead sessions)
+	pruned, _ := polecat.PruneStalePending(d.config.TownRoot, 5*time.Minute)
+	if pruned > 0 {
+		d.logger.Printf("Pruned %d stale pending spawn(s)", pruned)
+	}
+}
+
 // processLifecycleRequests checks for and processes lifecycle requests.
 func (d *Daemon) processLifecycleRequests() {
 	d.ProcessLifecycleRequests()