"Eye/I the kitty."

When I was a child, my German Grandmother, Edna, used to say this phrase in a very soft voice when she wanted me to be careful or gentle with something, such as a chick or kitten....I don't know how to spell the word, as I only have heard the phrase. "Eye or I" the kitty, "eye".
Has anyone else heard this one? Does anyone know the origin of this? Is there a German word she may have been using that sounded like eye or I ?