I understand that accurate information is necessary if breeders and owners are to make intelligent decisions that will ensure the continued well-being of individual cats and of the Old-Style Siamese breed.
 

A. I will provide complete and accurate information on all membership applications, Breeder's List applications, and any other documents I submit to PREOSSIA.

B. If I breed Old-Style Siamese, I will register all of my breeding cats and their litters with at least one major cat association that is widely acknowledged and respected, namely ACA, TICA, CFA, ACFA, CFF, CCA, GCCF, or FIFE. If I reside on the European mainland, WCF is also an acceptable association.

C. If I breed, I will register a cattery name with at least one major association (see section I-B). When I register individual kittens and cats I will make it clear who the breeder was of each Old-Style Siamese. In most associations the cattery name of the breeder should be the prefix in the cat's name. The breeder of a cat is the person who owned the cat's dam at the time the dam conceived the cat.

E. Whether the information will go to other breeders, to pet owners, to PREOSSIA, or to a cat association registry, I will not falsify, in whole or in part, pedigrees, registration papers, or other breeding documents.

F. Whether I am a breeder or a pet owner, I will not falsify veterinary records concerning any cat or make false statements concerning the health, behavior, pedigree, or other information applicable to any cat.

G. I will promptly inform the breeder, if any, of my Old-Style Siamese if my cat ever develops a serious disease at an unusually young age, a possible hereditary illness, or a hereditary physical defect, or dies sooner than expected.
 

I will remember that PREOSSIA is above all a breed preservation society, i.e., that its members are to preserve and improve the health of the Old-Style Siamese breed for posterity and that this aim must take priority before all other activities involving PREOSSIA.
 

A. With regard to fellow human beings and my contributions to PREOSSIA, I will:
2. Always behave in a manner that will be conducive to the advancement of the Old-Style Siamese breed and our club, including with respect to ethical issues not covered by the Minimum Standards of Conduct.

3. Always publicly maintain the attitude that my fellow members in good standing are sincere and acting from the best of motives.

4. Treat fellow members with courtesy and respect. If I cannot be courteous and respectful, I will remain silent until I can. If I disagree with another member, I will try to understand the other member's point of view and if necessary "agree to disagree."

5. Never intentionally and falsely degrade another member, member's Old-Style Siamese, cattery, home, or practices.

6. Never publicly accuse or complain about a breeder or member of PREOSSIA but I will instead first try to resolve disputes privately and, failing that, as a last resort quietly take the matter through established channels such as to the Ethics Committee.

7. Keep a copy of the Minimum Standards of Conduct and the PREOSSIA Goals in my records and remember that the ideas, rules, concepts, and goals in these documents were the foundation upon which the club was founded. I may propose minor changes to these documents through appropriate channels (see Working Rules). However, if I cannot comply with and support every statement in the Minimum Standards of Conduct and the PREOSSIA Goals for as long as each statement is still officially in effect, I will immediately cancel my membership in PREOSSIA.

8. Keep a copy of the Old-Style Siamese Breed Standard in my records. I need not agree with every detail of the Standard, but I will support it, and I completely agree with the general concept of the breed that is expressed in the Minimum Standards of Conduct, specifically that the Old-Style Siamese is a pedigreed Siamese cat of (a) colorpoint pattern and short coat, (b) moderate Oriental body type with a modified wedge head, (c) unusual intelligence, liveliness, and an inclination to be vocal, (d) that the gold standard that shall be used to settle disputes about the ideal appearance of the breed is the entire collection of available historic photographs of Siamese that were born prior to 1945 and to a lesser degree the historic descriptions of Siamese born prior to 1945 and (e) that the ancestors born later than 1980 of Old-Style Siamese shall consist predominantly of cats that are NOT commonly found in modern Siamese pedigrees.

9. Within the broad limits set by I-A7 and I-A8 above, I will encourage the free expression and free exchange of new ideas and opinions within PREOSSIA.
 

B. With regard to the cats under my care, I will:
 
1. Maintain sanitary conditions for, feed, water, and exercise, and address the emotional and special personality-related needs of every cat in my care.

2. Maintain proper housing for my cats. Proper housing means I will give them protection from environmental hazards (e.g., poisonous fumes and chemicals) and from extremes of weather and temperature at all times. Proper housing also means I must observe the following minimum space requirements for cats. The Minimum Sufficient Space (MSS), is a roomy enclosure that is furnished at minimum with litter pan, bed, scratching post or board, and a water dish, and after furnishing, it must still allow each intended feline occupant to sleep, stand, turn around, stretch, and walk in obvious comfort and without difficulty. Cats that are sick and need to be isolated from other cats may be confined to the MSS until they are well. Queens in heat may, if necessary, be confined solely to the MSS when in heat and during delivery and lactation. An Expanded Romping Space (ERS) is an area, usually the owner's home, that is sufficiently large to allow the cat to run, jump, and climb freely. Queens must be allowed to roam the ERS at virtually all times when not in heat, delivering, lactating, or ill. Kittens may be confined to the MSS when less than 4 weeks old, but must be allowed access to an ERS (usually a large room) most of the time thereafter. Studs may, if absolutely necessary, be confined to the MSS most of the time during their working careers, but except when ill must be given access to an ERS for at least one hour each day. Neutered pet cats must be given access to an ERS at virtually all times except as noted for sick cats. In plain words, as a member of PREOSSIA I promise to keep all of my cats, with the possible exception of working studs, uncaged most of the time.
 

I understand that the purpose of breeding Old-Style Siamese cats is to preserve the critical cosmetic and behavioral traits of the breed, as well as to improve the health of the breed.
 

A. If I decide to breed a litter, I will:
1. Remember that as a member of PREOSSIA I am a not-for-profit breeder. I will always breed with the welfare of my cats and the Old-Style Siamese breed uppermost in my mind. I will set my prices for kittens and cats sufficiently to protect them from resale by unethical individuals and to help me to afford the many expenses normally associated with breeding. However, for the sake of the public image of the breed and its breeders I will never set my prices higher than is necessary to achieve these goals, nor will I to create profit ever deny my cats anything they need or that will give them some of the happiness they deserve.

9. Maintain documentation concerning all Old-Style Siamese I have owned or bred, including copies of registration papers, medical records, sales contracts, pedigrees, permanent identification records (see II-B-9), and photos. I will maintain documentation on each cat even after I have sold the cat and after the cat has died for at least as long as I am an active breeder.
 

C.  With regard to the sale and transfer of Old-Style Siamese, I will:
1. Remember that throughout its Minimum Standards of Conduct PREOSSIA defines "selling" such that it refers to any transfer of ownership of an Old-Style Siamese, including but not limited to giving an Old-Style Siamese away for free, selling an Old-Style Siamese in exchange for shipping costs, and selling an Old-Style Siamese for a price in addition to shipping costs.

6. Whether I am buying or selling a cat, I will always use a sales contract that details what the breeder expects of the buyer, what the buyer should expect from the breeder. I understand that both the breeder and the buyer must read, sign, date, and receive copies of the sales contract. I will maintain copies of all sales contracts in my files.

10. Never allow a kitten or cat to leave my cattery if I know he is unwell or I have any serious doubts about the kitten's readiness to go to a new home. I may sell a kitten or cat that has a known chronic health problem only if a qualified veterinarian who knows the animal's medical history agrees that he may safely go to a new home and only if I fully disclose to all potential owners the nature of the health problem and the care that the cat will require.

14. Make certain that each of my Old-Style Siamese, upon being released to his new owner, is accompanied by the following:

a. Feeding instructions
b. Written medical record that will include at minimum the types of vaccines administered and dates administered, as well as wormings (if any).
c. A copy of the feline's pedigree showing at least three generations (blanks in pedigree acceptable only in cases where I know that an ancestor was unregistered and therefore no pedigree information is available).
d. A copy of the PREOSSIA Minimum Standards of Conduct
e. The papers or form for registering the feline with a major cat association (may be given to new owner within six months after feline goes to his new home).

A. Any violation of the Minimum Standards of Conduct may be cause for disciplinary measures, including suspension and permanent termination of membership.

B. It is my responsibility to promptly notify a member of the PREOSSIA Ethics Committee if I am engaged in a transaction with a member of PREOSSIA and am convinced that that member has violated the Minimum Standards of Conduct. However, if it is not clear whether the member has violated the Minimum Standards and there is a dispute between us, it is my responsibility to try to resolve the dispute with the member privately before taking the matter to the Ethics Committee.

C. If I am involved in a complaint, I may be asked to submit to the Ethics Committee copies of documents that the Minimum Standards of Conduct require me to maintain, such as sales contracts, registration papers, veterinary records, and pedigrees (see sections I and III). I agree to comply with such requests.

D. Members of the Ethics Committee and Voting Members may not take an active part in decisions regarding violations that personally affect them.

VI. Exceptions

Legitimate exceptions to the Minimum Standards of Conduct may arise. Any member may petition for an exception by submitting a statement to the Ethics Committee describing the situation and why the member believes an exception to the Minimum Standards of Conduct should be made. Any member of the Ethics Committee may elect to present the petition to the Voting Membership, the body that is the ultimate authority on the Minimum Standards of Conduct. However, a unanimous decision rendered by the Ethics Committee on a member petition is final.

The Ethics Committee may be contacted by writing to:

Dr. Cris Bird
Ethics Committee Chair
email <sarsenstone@earthlink.net>                                                        VERSION# MS081000