About the meaning of the motto 'Touch not a cat but a glove"

[Shawwii Lu]

'Bot' is simply another spelling for 'but'. Within the Clan Chattan itself there are two thoughts on the meaning: 'don't touch this cat unless you are wearing a glove' (that is, touch it gently), and 'don't touch this cat unless it is gloved'. A gloved cat is one with its claws withdrawn, or sheathed. The former has more adherents. Historically, the Clanchattan chiefship passed to Angus 6th of Mackintosh and it was his descendant who first used the slogan. As they became armigerous, most of the other Chattan chiefs adopted the same or variants/responses.

I think this is authoritative interpretation. I love the former meaning "touch it gently". It's more friendly than the other one. Thanks a lot for your kind teaching.