Check the Map Cat Before Choosing a Route

the map cat is not decoration... tap it before you commit to a road, then wait for its route marks to settle. i check the nearest fork and the destination tile, not just the distance. the cat has saved me from choosing the short road that ends beside a hostile wall.

when the cat turns its head or shifts toward another path, cancel the route and inspect that path first. do not spend movement, scouts, or a march just to prove the first choice was fine. i compare the next two tiles, especially crossings and dead ends, before sending anything valuable...

if you already set a route, check the cat again after a map refresh or any change around the destination. the map can look harmless while the useful road has moved. make the cat check part of your routine: open the map, tap the cat, inspect the fork, then choose...