オールドスタイル・シャムのはなし－はじめに

Japanese

"About this site" is still under the construction and always developing, it may change little by little. See "Consideration in contact with the breeders".

What is the Old-Style Siamese？
The circumstances about the OSS in Japan and overseas
About the process of the birth of this site
Contents
Link
The opinion and the impression of this site
About the breeding of OSS
Acknowledgment
Postface

1.What is the Old-Style Siamese？

   The Old-Style Siamese(OSS), which is now known as "Applehead Siamese", used to be popular in Japan. We can still see this type of Siamese cat in some of old Disney Movies. In the middle of the 1900's, the Siamese cats caught the spirit of a generation of early boom pets in Japan. But the growing popularity of these Siamese cats caused an unplanned increase breeding of their own. Back then, the dogs and cats were expected to roam freely outside. So the Siamese cat soon became "The cat which was around every corner", said "by word of the mongrel", and they have declined in value, especially commercially value. It has been more than 20 years since the OSS were not registered in the cats clubs which are internationally viable. These Old-Style Siamese are dramatically decreasing and are in danger of extinction, because of the "Modern Siamese", the Siamese cats which are comfoming today's standard and are becoming mainstream on the show bench.

   Actually, there are plenty of people who are looking for the Old-Style Siamese, but they can not find it easily, this is same not only in Japan but also in other countries. When the people began to look for a new Siamese kitten or cat for them after their long-lived Siamese cat had passed away, most of the people were surprised at the transfiguration of the Siamese cat modern-day. And then, they shock to know the hard fact that it is not so easy to find a new Siamese kitten like which they used to know and to live with.

  The Old-Style Siamese has such several names as Traditional Siamese, Applehead Siamese, Classic Siamese, Thaicat and Thai. Additionally, they are sometimes called by their nicknames in Japan, which are "Marugao-Shamu (Round-faced Siamese) " and "Tanu-Shamu (raccoon dog Siamese)". Though it is not popular in Japan, we would like to use the "Old-Style Siamese" ("OSS" for short) as standard name at this site, because it is globally used as common name, except some specific names of each cat club (e.g. Traditional Siamese, Thai).

2.The circumstances about the OSS in Japan and overseas

   Some associations which purpose is to preserve and protect the "Old-Style Siamese" begin to be established overseas, starting with U.S.A and Europe of the late 1980's. Unfortunately, in Japan, no organization holds the records of lineage of OSS-cat survivors, no organization has any information about the "Old-Style Siamese", besides there is no cattery either which is specialized to breed the Old-Style Siamese.(There are some catteries and pet shops breeding for business purposes infrequently.)

   Because nobody hold and prove their pedigree records which are acceptable by international standards, it may involve many concerns about the mating for the OSS survivors in Japan. As a result, the healthy pureblooded cats which have the enough traits and the enough characters of the OSS cat are decreasing in our country.

   For the meantime, the circumstances for the pet animal and the veterinary science have made excellent progress today in Japan. The responsible owners, who keep their cats completely indoors, give the neuter/spay and sufficient vet care, are increasing and become common now. I truly hope that the organization of preserving OSS will be established in Japan as early as possible.

3.About the process of the birth of this site

Incidentally, as for me, I own two cats. One of them is Siamese, I have heard, though I can not prove it. Because there was no registry & pedigree paper with when I purchased her, it was not uncommon for Siamese cat at that time of the late 1980's in Japan. Now, she becomes old and ill of kidneys. Although I have never imagined before, I could not help but think about her survival time. So I have started to read and search a lot of web sites and books to find any information about OSS in advance. Reading those web sites and books made me notice a large quantity and a wide variety of intelligence about OSS overseas. Then I had a glimmering of hope to know that there are some organizations to preserve and protect OSS in some countries. And so, I decided to make these web sites to organize information of OSS in the world for me and also for Japanese OSS lovers who is seeking OSS-cat all over the place.

This is a private & non-profit web site written in Japanese for Japanese OSS lovers, who eager to know, to seek and to learn more about the Siamese cats that we used to know in the middle of the 1900's, called as "Old-Style Siamese" nowadays. Most of these web sites are structured by linking to the web sites of overseas and introducing each web site simply in Japanese, because there is few information about OSS in Japan. I did not make a selection, there were almost all information that I could obtain on the Internet. It depends on each audience what he/she has choice and examine.

4.Contents

   Because the situation has changed, the contents of this web site might be changed drastically. But basically, this web site aim for a reliable intelligence source of OSS for Japanese. Therewithal, I would like to enrich the contents of "The information of OSS in Japan" in the future, though I do not know how long it takes.

   Additionally, I am going to introduce some valiant information overseas about pet animal, for example, "The Pet-ownership: intelligence and commonsense for smart owner", "The ideal breeding: responsible and ethical breeding" on this web site. We can refer to the many points of those intelligence overseas and follow a good example in Japan.

   I strongly encourage all of you to read each of the original web sites carefully after reading the introductory essay on my web site. And please have a great respect for each web site overseas and treat the contents with paying close attention because some of them are protected by copyright. Additionally, it is solely your responsibility to have contact with the breeders and make a contract with them. And, it is the responsibility of each potential buyer to do their own research to identify ethical, responsible breeders with healthy kittens.

5.Link

About the linking, I share the same view of this site.

6.The opinion and the impression of this site

When you have any question or opinion about this web site, please e-mail to MORIAN, the webmaster.

For breeders & catteries overseas:If any inconvenience causes to your side, please e-mail to me anytime. I will delete your web sites from this site immediately. I respect you deeply and I appreciate your dedication to preserve and protect OSS.
7.About the breeding of OSS

The breeding of OSS needs wealth of knowledge and enough experience, it may be a hard way. Perhaps you need to learn every knowledge from mentor in the world. If you think about breeding OSS-cat, please read the mentor program of each organization and ask them directly. And also there are many books which were written about OSS-cat(early Siamese), so, expand your knowledge of the OSS-cat as much as you can to read those books.

9.Acknowledgement

I wish to extend sincere thanks to my friends for the use of the photographs of their cats kindly. I want to offer very special thanks to Julia Craig-Mcfeely, a Publications editor of OSSC, UK.

8.Postface

Finally, I would like to develop this web site by respecting all types of Siamese, all cats, all dogs and all of living natures. In addition, I do not have any distinction and the prejudiced opinion with the hybrid cats and the abandoned cats. There were 2 dogs and 2 cats I had before, one of them had a pedigree & a registry of the cat club in Japan, others were mongrel, but all of them lived so long as the precious members of our family. Therefore, I completely understand that every pet is a treasure of each owner. And yet, this web site will be focused to provide the information of OSS. I hope every meezer(and cats & dogs & all of living natures) lover will enjoy this web site.
I have visions that the convention of all types of Siamese will be held in Japan someday in the future, it is OK for me it may take 50 years or 100 years from now.

This is my beloved cat Molly that is a Siamese mixed cat.

Since 01.Oct.2003 MORIAN

Japanese

Most OSS breeders overseas run small and family-run kind of catteries. Though there are some full-time breeders, it seems that there are a lot of non-profit breeders who have the other livelihoods, and run their catteries voluntarily. In my impression, the more conscientiously they work, the less they gain. So please fully understand their stands and show your respect to their quiet lives when you intend to have contact with them.

Also, we strongly suggest all of you NOT to approach one-sidedly or partly for fun. It might be possible that someone's undesirable behavior lowers entire impression of Japanese. If so, that makes difficult for other OSS lovers to import the OSS.

Meanwhile, if you get your best intentions understood about how you love the OSS and how you can hardly find the OSS in Japan, the breeders would respond to your offer accordingly.

Again, please faithfully have contact with the breeders as a lover of the OSS. Moreover, please remember that the catteries have the right to reject offers without explanation. It is solely your responsibility to have contact with the breeders and make a contract with them. Also, please note that it is the responsibility of each potential buyer to do their own research to identify ethical, responsible breeders with healthy kittens. Thank you for your understanding.