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”
Rest in peace beautiful soul
Rest in peace beautiful soul
Rest in peace beautiful soul
Rest in peace beautiful soul
i met stalking cat aka tiger back in ac 2003 i believe it was. he was such a sweet and caring individual. i first found out about him through a documentary forgot what it was called back in the late 90′s after i found the furry community. i wish he never took his own life. he had so much to do and so much life to give. *sigh* depression affects everyone differently. i just hope he realized the impact he has made towards other people making their lives a little brighter just by having him in them. i will never forget you tiger.
i met stalking cat aka tiger back in ac 2003 i believe it was. he was such a sweet and caring individual. i first found out about him through a documentary forgot what it was called back in the late 90′s after i found the furry community. i wish he never took his own life. he had so much to do and so much life to give. *sigh* depression affects everyone differently. i just hope he realized the impact he has made towards other people making their lives a little brighter just by having him in them. i will never forget you tiger.
i met stalking cat aka tiger back in ac 2003 i believe it was. he was such a sweet and caring individual. i first found out about him through a documentary forgot what it was called back in the late 90′s after i found the furry community. i wish he never took his own life. he had so much to do and so much life to give. *sigh* depression affects everyone differently. i just hope he realized the impact he has made towards other people making their lives a little brighter just by having him in them. i will never forget you tiger.
i met stalking cat aka tiger back in ac 2003 i believe it was. he was such a sweet and caring individual. i first found out about him through a documentary forgot what it was called back in the late 90′s after i found the furry community. i wish he never took his own life. he had so much to do and so much life to give. *sigh* depression affects everyone differently. i just hope he realized the impact he has made towards other people making their lives a little brighter just by having him in them. i will never forget you tiger.
R.I.P. – CAT
R.I.P. – CAT
R.I.P. – CAT
R.I.P. – CAT
I remember appearing on Larry King with him. What struck most about him was his calm manner and the focus of his transformation. Where most people add to their mods at a whim, he knew where he was going and was steadfast about it. RIP Stalking Cat.
I remember appearing on Larry King with him. What struck most about him was his calm manner and the focus of his transformation. Where most people add to their mods at a whim, he knew where he was going and was steadfast about it. RIP Stalking Cat.
I remember appearing on Larry King with him. What struck most about him was his calm manner and the focus of his transformation. Where most people add to their mods at a whim, he knew where he was going and was steadfast about it. RIP Stalking Cat.
I remember appearing on Larry King with him. What struck most about him was his calm manner and the focus of his transformation. Where most people add to their mods at a whim, he knew where he was going and was steadfast about it. RIP Stalking Cat.
What a sad day for the body modification industry. This was one person I wish I could have met. Sad when someone takes their own life. I think Joey Strange’s comment may be the best to describe Dennis’s focus, which came across in interviews.
What a sad day for the body modification industry. This was one person I wish I could have met. Sad when someone takes their own life. I think Joey Strange’s comment may be the best to describe Dennis’s focus, which came across in interviews.
What a sad day for the body modification industry. This was one person I wish I could have met. Sad when someone takes their own life. I think Joey Strange’s comment may be the best to describe Dennis’s focus, which came across in interviews.
What a sad day for the body modification industry. This was one person I wish I could have met. Sad when someone takes their own life. I think Joey Strange’s comment may be the best to describe Dennis’s focus, which came across in interviews.
Too bad ((
Too bad ((
Too bad ((
Too bad ((
RIP!!!
RIP!!!
RIP!!!
RIP!!!
Um, I don’t think he’s dead.
Um, I don’t think he’s dead.
Um, I don’t think he’s dead.
Um, I don’t think he’s dead.
I do not want this to be true, but sadly am unsurprised by the news. One of the most misunderstood person in the world. Victim of knee-jerk reactions and closed-mindedness. He deserved everything he desired, but always seemed robbed of whatever he sought.
RIP, Cat. You were an inspiration to so many.
I do not want this to be true, but sadly am unsurprised by the news. One of the most misunderstood person in the world. Victim of knee-jerk reactions and closed-mindedness. He deserved everything he desired, but always seemed robbed of whatever he sought.
RIP, Cat. You were an inspiration to so many.
I do not want this to be true, but sadly am unsurprised by the news. One of the most misunderstood person in the world. Victim of knee-jerk reactions and closed-mindedness. He deserved everything he desired, but always seemed robbed of whatever he sought.
RIP, Cat. You were an inspiration to so many.
I do not want this to be true, but sadly am unsurprised by the news. One of the most misunderstood person in the world. Victim of knee-jerk reactions and closed-mindedness. He deserved everything he desired, but always seemed robbed of whatever he sought.
RIP, Cat. You were an inspiration to so many.
very sad 🙁
very sad 🙁
very sad 🙁
very sad 🙁
Spoczywaj w Pokoju, Kocie
Spoczywaj w Pokoju, Kocie
Spoczywaj w Pokoju, Kocie
Spoczywaj w Pokoju, Kocie
restin peace.. 🙁 sad news…
restin peace.. 🙁 sad news…
restin peace.. 🙁 sad news…
restin peace.. 🙁 sad news…
RIP 🙁
RIP 🙁