Cats in Art, Illustration and Photography: Saint Gertrude of Nivelles (also spelled Geretrude, Geretrudis, Gertrud) (ca. 621 – March 17, 659) was a seventh-century abbess who, with her mother Itta, founded the monastery of Nivelles in present-day Belgium. While never formally canonized, Pope Clement XII declared her universal feast day to be March 17, the same as Saint Patrick, in 1677. She is the patron saint of travelers, gardeners, cats, cat fanciers and against rats and mental illness.
