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Learn more about Gertrude and her family at
these links:
Biographical
info from the Catholic Encyclopedia
Photo of St Gertrude's Collegiate Church in Nivelles
For detailed information about St. Gertrude,
view her BIOGRAPHICAL
SCROLL 
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Gertrude is patron of those seeking
lodging because her monastery was known for its hospitality to travelers and pilgrims, especially the Irish missionaries.
See our Celtic
Pages for information on some of
those Irish monks, including St.
Fiacre.
Lodging for those with animal companions: hotels, motels, B&Bs, campsites, beaches, resorts and more
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(also see our St. Fiacre links)
St. Gertrude is patron saint of gardeners and herbalists because
fine weather on her feast day means it's time for planting.
Keeping
cats OUT of the garden. Cats love gardens (with good reason), but
there are plenty of reasons to deny entrance. We have lots of "free-range" cats around the studio and
even though it's nice to see them basking in the sun in the rose garden, I'd rather they didn't do their hunting
and scratching and spraying there! Frankly, they are very lucky I'm sympathetic. And their humans need to realize
not everyone is.
Lots of good Q&A here. And more great
gardening tips for
the "cat-owned".
How does
catnip work? (if you've ever wondered.)
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St. Gertrude's patronage of cats is most likely because water from
her well and bread baked in her oven was believed to repel rodents. (That's why "Humane
pest control is included below as an alternative to prayers to St. Gertrude)
Cats in the House
a very classy site filled with cat-related info and links, serious as
well as lighthearted. Even offers a "kitty age in human years chart."
Lore of
the Cat, the mystical history of catdom, explores the beliefs, legends
and myths surrounding felines.
Some Moore Cats, another great site.
petfinder.com
is a great resource for adoption
and other informatiom
A Prayer for Animals can be found here,
on our St.
Gertrude Spirit Tag pages and St. Francis pages.
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Note: That's huMANE
(although controlling human pests is certainly an idea worth pursuing.)
 Crittercontrol specializes in humane solutions that are low-impact on the environment but highly effective
on the pest.
Ultrasonic Rodent Repellers
Cruelty-Free
Mouse Traps and other pest controls
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In France, on St.
Agatha's
Day, women were supposed to refrain from working. Those who were caught doing chores were said to be confronted
by an angry cat, who was St. Agatha in disguise. (Thanks to one of our patrons for that info.)
Marc Gunn, of the great Brobdingnagian Bards now
has several musical Irish Cat CD's. So be sure to raise a glass to Gertrude in the pub on St. Paddy's Day with
one of his songs!
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