iN PHOTOS: Cute cats lounge away in Kamloops, Okanagan

These adorable domestic cats in Kamloops and the Okanagan don’t appear to be bothered by overcast weather and bring cheer to their owners.

“My cat Monkey is the most sweetest kitty around,” said Kamloops resident Michele White. “He’s full of energy and lives up to his name by climbing anything he can just to get as high as he can.”

There are more than six million domesticated cats in the world and evidence that cats and humans have been living together for 12,000 years.

Contrary to popular belief that cats originated in Egypt, all domestic cats are the descendants of the African wildcat that started living with humans in the Middle East, according to Petpedia.

This Kamloops cat Cheeto likes to lounge. iNFOnews.ca/ Sherry Bezanson

In ancient Egyptian times, cats were used to control mouse populations and become valued as sacred creatures that were commonly buried with pharaohs.

Over the centuries, felines made it to many other countries where they used to ward of rats and disease.

During the Middle Ages, cats were associated with superstition and witchcraft and killed by the thousands, which increased rat populations and disease.

Early colonists to the New World saw the value of cats and used them on ships as rodent catchers and the felines were brought to America where they thrived as mousers until the 1800s when people started bringing them indoors as companions.

The cats in these photos look like they lounge more than work.

We’d love to see your cute pet photos, please send them to the news@infonews.ca.