«كَلِّمِ الْقُطِّ يْخَرْبِشَكْ»

The cat stands for a person whose nature is to harm others; the saying is not about animals. Even ordinary conversation with such a person brings a hostile reaction, like a claw that draws blood rather than a light scratch. The trouble comes not from what you say but from who they are.

The practical lesson is avoidance. The wise course is to keep clear of a malicious person and not stir or challenge them. Anyone who approaches anyway should expect real hurt and has little reason to feel surprised.

Use it as a warning or a rueful comment about someone who responds to any contact with spite. It advises keeping a distance rather than provoking or even engaging. Because it brands its target as ill-natured, it reads as a pointed judgment, not neutral advice.