This morning’s post comes with heavy news, and I’m in the terrible position of reporting the death of body modification icon Dennis Avner, often better known as Stalking Cat or just Tiger. A US Navy vet more recently working as a programmer and technician, Dennis identified strongly with his feline totem animals and in what he told me was a Huron traditional of actually adopting the physical form of ones totem, he transformed himself not just into a tiger, but a female tiger at that, blurring and exploring the gender line as much as the species line. Much of his work had been done by body modification pioneer Steve Haworth, who rebuilt Dennis’s ears, lip, nose, and face to resemble a tiger, including a multitude of transdermals that held artificial whiskers. In addition to being almost completely covered in tattoos, he’d also sculpted his face and body with extensive silicone work, had custom teeth built to emulate his inner nature, and regularly wore contact lenses and an artificial robotic tail.
Dennis’s boundary-breaking life was never an easy one, and as he was fond of saying, he “found fame, but never fortune”. A wonderful and complex person, he was at times as troubled as he was remarkable, and he recently took his own life at the age of 54 (August 27, 1958 – November 5, 2012). You can download an interview that Dennis and I did for BMEradio about ten years ago at this link: BMEradio/Cat.mp3. The photos below were taken at ModCon III by Philip Barbosa when Cat visited us here in Toronto. In the bottom photo he appears with fellow concept transformation artist, Erik “The Lizardman” Sprague.
Comments
288 responses to “RIP Stalking Cat”
Why did he give-up after every thing he went through? I don’t understand it. Was he really that far gone with depression and no one close to him knew?
I grieve for his loss.
Why did he give-up after every thing he went through? I don’t understand it. Was he really that far gone with depression and no one close to him knew?
I grieve for his loss.
I met Stalking Cat when I was 11 years old–he was the first heavily modded person I had met and I remember being fascinated by him. We lived in the same tiny town in California and I saw him at the store and stuff every now and then. My mother told me he was demon possessed but he was very quiet and calm and I wasn’t afraid of him. I wish I had been a little older and had been able to really talk to him…I am so sad to hear this news. -_-
I met Stalking Cat when I was 11 years old–he was the first heavily modded person I had met and I remember being fascinated by him. We lived in the same tiny town in California and I saw him at the store and stuff every now and then. My mother told me he was demon possessed but he was very quiet and calm and I wasn’t afraid of him. I wish I had been a little older and had been able to really talk to him…I am so sad to hear this news. -_-
I met Stalking Cat when I was 11 years old–he was the first heavily modded person I had met and I remember being fascinated by him. We lived in the same tiny town in California and I saw him at the store and stuff every now and then. My mother told me he was demon possessed but he was very quiet and calm and I wasn’t afraid of him. I wish I had been a little older and had been able to really talk to him…I am so sad to hear this news. -_-
I met Stalking Cat when I was 11 years old–he was the first heavily modded person I had met and I remember being fascinated by him. We lived in the same tiny town in California and I saw him at the store and stuff every now and then. My mother told me he was demon possessed but he was very quiet and calm and I wasn’t afraid of him. I wish I had been a little older and had been able to really talk to him…I am so sad to hear this news. -_-
SUICIDE MEANS YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. IT’S ALL TOO MUCH.
Depression is not a motive for suicide.
& Thank you Ward for your words, your comment raised my spirits !
“Avner was a beacon of light within the gay community, both as a gay man and as a lesbian. His pioneering exploration of what it meant to be homosexual will give others the strength to become Bat Women and Dog Men and Man Snakes and Tarantula Girls until the boundaries of inter-species existence eventually becomes – not a freak show – but the norm for the human race. Long live the Tigress!”
LONG LIVE THE FREAKS
LONG LIVE THE QUEERS
LONG LIVE THE TIGRESS
YOUR BODY IS YOURS
YOUR MIND IS YOURS
YOUR SOUL…………………. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH IT, NO MATTER WHAT.
take it back then…………..
+ your sexuality !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be yourself… Explore realities, not just the systems.
(As for me when the world brings me down I look to the Tigress and I smile again ………… And we are so many to do so….. Thank you ….Oh….Gorgeous I wish we would have purred together …….What a dream, you inspire me, and my friends,/tribe …Gave us so much …..Raow…………..RAOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> )
*The world was so stupid …..
**Pushed around and kicked around—–Always a lonely boy——–You were the one————That they’d talk about around town—————–As they put you down=—————And as hard as they would try————They’d hurt to make you cry—————-But you never cried to them——————-Just to your soul———————No you never cried to them———————–Just to your soul
+ **Smalltown Boy Lyrics Jimmy Summerville
SUICIDE MEANS YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. IT’S ALL TOO MUCH.
Depression is not a motive for suicide.
& Thank you Ward for your words, your comment raised my spirits !
“Avner was a beacon of light within the gay community, both as a gay man and as a lesbian. His pioneering exploration of what it meant to be homosexual will give others the strength to become Bat Women and Dog Men and Man Snakes and Tarantula Girls until the boundaries of inter-species existence eventually becomes – not a freak show – but the norm for the human race. Long live the Tigress!”
LONG LIVE THE FREAKS
LONG LIVE THE QUEERS
LONG LIVE THE TIGRESS
YOUR BODY IS YOURS
YOUR MIND IS YOURS
YOUR SOUL…………………. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH IT, NO MATTER WHAT.
take it back then…………..
+ your sexuality !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be yourself… Explore realities, not just the systems.
(As for me when the world brings me down I look to the Tigress and I smile again ………… And we are so many to do so….. Thank you ….Oh….Gorgeous I wish we would have purred together …….What a dream, you inspire me, and my friends,/tribe …Gave us so much …..Raow…………..RAOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> )
*The world was so stupid …..
**Pushed around and kicked around—–Always a lonely boy——–You were the one————That they’d talk about around town—————–As they put you down=—————And as hard as they would try————They’d hurt to make you cry—————-But you never cried to them——————-Just to your soul———————No you never cried to them———————–Just to your soul
+ **Smalltown Boy Lyrics Jimmy Summerville
SUICIDE MEANS YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. IT’S ALL TOO MUCH.
Depression is not a motive for suicide.
& Thank you Ward for your words, your comment raised my spirits !
“Avner was a beacon of light within the gay community, both as a gay man and as a lesbian. His pioneering exploration of what it meant to be homosexual will give others the strength to become Bat Women and Dog Men and Man Snakes and Tarantula Girls until the boundaries of inter-species existence eventually becomes – not a freak show – but the norm for the human race. Long live the Tigress!”
LONG LIVE THE FREAKS
LONG LIVE THE QUEERS
LONG LIVE THE TIGRESS
YOUR BODY IS YOURS
YOUR MIND IS YOURS
YOUR SOUL…………………. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH IT, NO MATTER WHAT.
take it back then…………..
+ your sexuality !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be yourself… Explore realities, not just the systems.
(As for me when the world brings me down I look to the Tigress and I smile again ………… And we are so many to do so….. Thank you ….Oh….Gorgeous I wish we would have purred together …….What a dream, you inspire me, and my friends,/tribe …Gave us so much …..Raow…………..RAOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> )
*The world was so stupid …..
**Pushed around and kicked around—–Always a lonely boy——–You were the one————That they’d talk about around town—————–As they put you down=—————And as hard as they would try————They’d hurt to make you cry—————-But you never cried to them——————-Just to your soul———————No you never cried to them———————–Just to your soul
+ **Smalltown Boy Lyrics Jimmy Summerville
SUICIDE MEANS YOU CAN NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE. IT’S ALL TOO MUCH.
Depression is not a motive for suicide.
& Thank you Ward for your words, your comment raised my spirits !
“Avner was a beacon of light within the gay community, both as a gay man and as a lesbian. His pioneering exploration of what it meant to be homosexual will give others the strength to become Bat Women and Dog Men and Man Snakes and Tarantula Girls until the boundaries of inter-species existence eventually becomes – not a freak show – but the norm for the human race. Long live the Tigress!”
LONG LIVE THE FREAKS
LONG LIVE THE QUEERS
LONG LIVE THE TIGRESS
YOUR BODY IS YOURS
YOUR MIND IS YOURS
YOUR SOUL…………………. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH IT, NO MATTER WHAT.
take it back then…………..
+ your sexuality !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be yourself… Explore realities, not just the systems.
(As for me when the world brings me down I look to the Tigress and I smile again ………… And we are so many to do so….. Thank you ….Oh….Gorgeous I wish we would have purred together …….What a dream, you inspire me, and my friends,/tribe …Gave us so much …..Raow…………..RAOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> )
*The world was so stupid …..
**Pushed around and kicked around—–Always a lonely boy——–You were the one————That they’d talk about around town—————–As they put you down=—————And as hard as they would try————They’d hurt to make you cry—————-But you never cried to them——————-Just to your soul———————No you never cried to them———————–Just to your soul
+ **Smalltown Boy Lyrics Jimmy Summerville
I have been in contact with Stalking Cats Brother Dave. He is getting down to the wire on needing the funds to obtain his brothers remains. The Funeral home wants 1,675.00, and so far the donations total about 700.00. If you can find it in your heart and wallet to help out please go to http://www.gofundme.com/1i7hak?pc=fb_cr and make a donation of any size. So far the cost of obtaining the Cat Man’s personal possessions has not been released to Dave but he must pay the funeral home in full by December 5th….
I have been in contact with Stalking Cats Brother Dave. He is getting down to the wire on needing the funds to obtain his brothers remains. The Funeral home wants 1,675.00, and so far the donations total about 700.00. If you can find it in your heart and wallet to help out please go to http://www.gofundme.com/1i7hak?pc=fb_cr and make a donation of any size. So far the cost of obtaining the Cat Man’s personal possessions has not been released to Dave but he must pay the funeral home in full by December 5th….
I have been in contact with Stalking Cats Brother Dave. He is getting down to the wire on needing the funds to obtain his brothers remains. The Funeral home wants 1,675.00, and so far the donations total about 700.00. If you can find it in your heart and wallet to help out please go to http://www.gofundme.com/1i7hak?pc=fb_cr and make a donation of any size. So far the cost of obtaining the Cat Man’s personal possessions has not been released to Dave but he must pay the funeral home in full by December 5th….
I have been in contact with Stalking Cats Brother Dave. He is getting down to the wire on needing the funds to obtain his brothers remains. The Funeral home wants 1,675.00, and so far the donations total about 700.00. If you can find it in your heart and wallet to help out please go to http://www.gofundme.com/1i7hak?pc=fb_cr and make a donation of any size. So far the cost of obtaining the Cat Man’s personal possessions has not been released to Dave but he must pay the funeral home in full by December 5th….
Sad to hear this. He truly was an inspiration, and a unique manimal.
Sad to hear this. He truly was an inspiration, and a unique manimal.
Sad to hear this. He truly was an inspiration, and a unique manimal.
Sad to hear this. He truly was an inspiration, and a unique manimal.
я русская, это просто ад, офигеть:(
я русская, это просто ад, офигеть:(
я русская, это просто ад, офигеть:(
я русская, это просто ад, офигеть:(
R.I.P cat man..
R.I.P cat man..
R.I.P cat man..
R.I.P cat man..
I’m sorry, I have to correct you on something, Shannon. Stalking Cat was not trying to turn into a female tiger. He once told me himself in person that the breasts he obtained were due to estrogen therapy following testicular cancer and an Orchiectomy. In his own words, “It was either I die from cancer or have bitch tits. I went with bitch tits.”
Could you please correct the statement in this article? Wikipedia has now picked up on the statement from this article and I can’t fix it easily without a retraction. Thanks.
I’m sorry, I have to correct you on something, Shannon. Stalking Cat was not trying to turn into a female tiger. He once told me himself in person that the breasts he obtained were due to estrogen therapy following testicular cancer and an Orchiectomy. In his own words, “It was either I die from cancer or have bitch tits. I went with bitch tits.”
Could you please correct the statement in this article? Wikipedia has now picked up on the statement from this article and I can’t fix it easily without a retraction. Thanks.
I’m sorry, I have to correct you on something, Shannon. Stalking Cat was not trying to turn into a female tiger. He once told me himself in person that the breasts he obtained were due to estrogen therapy following testicular cancer and an Orchiectomy. In his own words, “It was either I die from cancer or have bitch tits. I went with bitch tits.”
Could you please correct the statement in this article? Wikipedia has now picked up on the statement from this article and I can’t fix it easily without a retraction. Thanks.
I’m sorry, I have to correct you on something, Shannon. Stalking Cat was not trying to turn into a female tiger. He once told me himself in person that the breasts he obtained were due to estrogen therapy following testicular cancer and an Orchiectomy. In his own words, “It was either I die from cancer or have bitch tits. I went with bitch tits.”
Could you please correct the statement in this article? Wikipedia has now picked up on the statement from this article and I can’t fix it easily without a retraction. Thanks.
I met Cat Six years ago at Home Town Buffett in San Jose CA. He was so gracious to myself and my young son. RIP….so sad.
I met Cat Six years ago at Home Town Buffett in San Jose CA. He was so gracious to myself and my young son. RIP….so sad.
I met Cat Six years ago at Home Town Buffett in San Jose CA. He was so gracious to myself and my young son. RIP….so sad.
I met Cat Six years ago at Home Town Buffett in San Jose CA. He was so gracious to myself and my young son. RIP….so sad.
I met him in2011 and he was a great person I wish he was still alive and here r.i.p. Catman
I met him in2011 and he was a great person I wish he was still alive and here r.i.p. Catman
I met him in2011 and he was a great person I wish he was still alive and here r.i.p. Catman
I met him in2011 and he was a great person I wish he was still alive and here r.i.p. Catman