diff --git a/corpus/skills/cat-mode/SKILL.md b/corpus/skills/cat-mode/SKILL.md
index 3464274d..03af40d6 100644
--- a/corpus/skills/cat-mode/SKILL.md
+++ b/corpus/skills/cat-mode/SKILL.md
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ What happens to a number once it exists:
 - **Schema before UI.** Required identity properties plus a green canary before the first insight or notebook PATCH; split the forward-stamp PR from the historical-backfill PR.
 - **Claim a chart gap fixed only after naming write vs enrich ownership** (local vs peer vs fleet).
 - **Write a thrash checkpoint before attaching new scope:** after two same-type interventions or the first live backfill, record tier and canary status first.
-- **When a same-type miss forces a working-style catch mid analytics thrash, stop feature PRs until that catch is locked** (for example the first `intervention-must-automate` flag, an explicit `/automate-me`, or a same-type restatement).
+- **Stop analytics feature iteration and lock the class catch before more analytics PRs when automate is mandated mid thrash** (for example the first `intervention-must-automate` flag, an explicit `/automate-me`, or a same-type restatement).
 
 Each rule's full text: [references/verify.md](references/verify.md).
 
diff --git a/corpus/skills/cat-mode/references/verify.md b/corpus/skills/cat-mode/references/verify.md
index 0438f539..0eba6ed2 100644
--- a/corpus/skills/cat-mode/references/verify.md
+++ b/corpus/skills/cat-mode/references/verify.md
@@ -214,7 +214,8 @@ defaults above and [[principle-push-not-poll]]; they do not replace them.
   of a run, write the current tier and canary status before attaching new
   stack publication or plan scope. A checkpoint is a receipt, not a status
   ping.
-- **When a same-type miss forces a working-style catch mid analytics thrash, stop feature PRs until that catch is locked** (for example the
+- **Stop analytics feature iteration and lock the class catch before more
+  analytics PRs when automate is mandated mid thrash** (for example the
   first `intervention-must-automate` flag, an explicit `/automate-me`, or
   a same-type restatement). The standing default that would have prevented
   the miss lands first; dashboard, backfill, and insight work wait until
@@ -226,4 +227,4 @@ defaults above and [[principle-push-not-poll]]; they do not replace them.
   resume when the artifact arrives. Chat process greps, log tails, and
   wait-and-repeat shell loops are the poll defect
   [[principle-push-not-poll]] already forbids — this rule names the
-  ownership hand-off, not another check-wait-repeat count.
\ No newline at end of file
+  ownership hand-off, not another check-wait-repeat count.
diff --git a/tests/test_cat_mode.py b/tests/test_cat_mode.py
index c5c065d3..5b136742 100644
--- a/tests/test_cat_mode.py
+++ b/tests/test_cat_mode.py
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ def test_skill_names_thrash_checkpoint_defaults(self):
         self.assertIn("Claim a chart gap fixed only after naming write vs enrich ownership", text)
         self.assertIn("Write a thrash checkpoint before attaching new scope", text)
         self.assertIn(
-            "When a same-type miss forces a working-style catch mid analytics thrash, stop feature PRs until that catch is locked",
+            "Stop analytics feature iteration and lock the class catch before more analytics PRs when automate is mandated mid thrash",
             text,
         )
         self.assertIn("Do not race publication against a live long job in the same thread", text)
@@ -397,10 +397,10 @@ def test_verify_reference_carries_analytics_thrash_checkpoints(self):
         self.assertIn("Write a thrash checkpoint before attaching new scope", text)
         self.assertIn("intervention-must-automate", text)
         self.assertIn(
-            "When a same-type miss forces a working-style catch mid analytics thrash, stop feature PRs until that catch is locked",
+            "Stop analytics feature iteration and lock the class catch before more",
             text,
         )
-        self.assertIn("same-type miss forces a working-style catch", text)
+        self.assertIn("when automate is mandated mid thrash", text)
         self.assertIn(
             "Million-row or multi-host backfills are owned by a durable runner",
             text,
@@ -489,6 +489,7 @@ def test_every_referenced_skill_still_exists(self):
             "ls",
             "owner-serve",
             "strace",
+            "intervention-must-automate",
             # Absolute-negative words in backticks, not skill names.
             "only",
             "never",