Stalking Cat (born Dennis Avner; August 27, 1958 – November 5, 2012) was an American person known for their extensive body modifications, which were intended to increase their resemblance to a tiger. For their 14 surgical procedures towards that goal,they held a world record for "most permanent transformations to look like an animal". "Stalking Cat" was their chosen name.
Biography Avner was born in Flint, Michigan, and grew up in Suttons Bay, Michigan. As an adult, she joined the Navy as a sonar technician. She left her Navy post around 1981. She then began working as a computer programmer and technician in San Diego, California.
In the early 1980s, guided by her personal vision and feelings of affinity for the tigress, Stalking Cat began tattooing and surgically modifying her face. In interviews, they repeatedly stated that they chose to alter their physical appearance in accordance with what they believed was an ancient Wyandot tradition; however, this was their personal belief, not traditional practice. She also told people she grew up in a tribe and had been told to change her form to that of a tiger by a medicine man. Due to various medical laws, the procedures she had were performed without anaesthetic.
While living in San Diego, she met Tess Calhoun at a furry convention. Over several years, she formed a close friendship with Calhoun and her husband, Rick Weiss. In 2005, Weiss's job with Boeing required the couple to move to Washington, and they asked Stalking Cat, then aged 47, to join them. The trio moved to Freeland, Washington, on Whidbey Island, where Stalking Cat helped fix up their house.
Stalking Cat, Calhoun, and Weiss were active in the furry community, both online and at conventions. They held monthly gatherings for members of the furry community at their home. She had financial troubles, and in August 2007, she posted publicly on her online journal that she needed a new place to live. Calhoun posted that she and her husband simply could not afford to support them anymore. She also posted that they would be throwing them a send-off party. In September 2007, at age 49, Stalking Cat moved to Tonopah, Nevada.
Death On November 5, 2012, Stalking Cat was found dead in their garage, with a gun on the floor. She was 54 years old. News of the death became public one week later. In an online post, BMEzine founder Shannon Larratt wrote that her death was a suicide.
Body modifications Description of modifications Many of Stalking Cat's body modifications were performed by Arizona-based artist Steve Haworth. The first artist to begin the extensive tattoo work on Stalking Cat's face was Larry Hanks in San Diego, California, who started the work in 1985.http://westcoastinkmag.com/larry-hanks/ they had over 14 types of modifications, including:
Extensive tattooing, including facial tattooing Facial subdermal implants to change the shape of her brow, forehead, and the bridge of her nose Flattening her nose, via septum relocation Silicone injection in her lips, cheeks, chin, and other parts of her face Bifurcating (splitting) her upper lip Filing and capping her teeth Surgically shaping her ears, making her ears pointed and her earlobes elongated Surgical hairline modification Piercing her upper lip and transdermal implants on her forehead, to facilitate wearing whiskers Wearing green contact lenses with slit irises Wearing a robotic tail
Future modification plans included implants on top of her head, to facilitate the mounting of tiger-like ears.
Medical ethics concerns Glenn McGee, director of the Center for Bioethics at Albany Medical College in New York, said: "Cosmetic surgery is a practice based on informed consent that needs to balance the risks with the benefits. It is possible to have a coherent view that is nonetheless detrimental to one's well-being. This is a patient who's being harmed by medicine in the interest of their tradition."
See also Tom Leppard Katzen Lucky Diamond Rich The Enigma The Lizardman (performer)
References
External links Stalking Cat, WikiFur biography Livejournal, online journal Stalking Cat, official site Audio interview with Stalking Cat