«اِللِّعْبْ بِالْقُطَطْ وَلَا الْبِطَالَهْ»

The saying ranks any activity, however trivial, above complete inactivity; its ولا means 'rather than,' not 'nor.' Even a pastime as pointless as fooling around with cats is preferable to sitting with empty hands, because idleness itself is seen as the greater harm.

In practice it encourages people to stay occupied rather than wait for an ideal task. The cats are figurative, not literal advice about animals, and the saying does not praise frivolity for its own sake. It can also gently excuse a small or unimpressive job, treating doing nothing as the real failing.

Suitable for nudging someone who is doing nothing, or for lightly defending a modest or seemingly pointless task. It can sound teasing, so it fits friends and family better than formal situations where it might seem to belittle the listener's work.