Dennis Avner is well known for his extensive body alterations and tattoos, all of which were done with the express purpose of making him resemble a female cat.
On August 27, 1958, in Flint, Michigan, Dennis Avner was born.
After Oscoda High School, he enlisted in the Navy as a submarine technician. Four years after his discharge, he relocated to the San Diego area and began working as a computer technician.
In those moments, he quickly developed a love for tattooing and surgery and once more wanted to resemble a female tiger. To achieve his ideal looks, he underwent procedures, modifications, and surgery.
In an interview with Only Human, Avner stated, “I’ve been a cat my entire life. My relationship with cats has always been strong.
Cats and I have always gotten along well.
”.
It didn’t take him long to settle on using the American Indian moniker “Stalking Cat,” though some people even called him Catman.
Avner kept getting his body changed for more than 25 years until it was exactly how he wanted.
I’m Huron and Lakota. I’m just carrying on an extremely old tradition that, as far as I know, is no longer followed,” Avner said.
Then, he had his lip split to resemble a cat’s, his teeth were removed, and they were replaced with dentures that resembled tigers. Additionally, he had 18 piercings above his lip that Avner could accessorize with whiskers on special occasions, as well as six stain-free steel mounts that were placed on his forehead.
Avner also received silicone injections in his cheek, silicone nose and brow implants, and chin and lip injections.
He had ink all over his body.
Here I am.
He declared in 2005, “This is who I am.
As some of the procedures were painful, the doctors said he was endangering his health and life.
He reportedly ran up debt as a result of his over $200,000 investment in the transformations. Prior to that, while residing in San Diego, Tess Calhoun, he made new friends. Avner was welcomed with open arms by Tess and her husband Rick Weiss, and they quickly grew close.
Avner moved with the couple, and their relationship was quite strong, when they made the decision to move to California due to Weiss’ job. Each other’s assistance was invaluable.
Following Avner’s financial crisis and request to vacate their home, their relationship came to an end.
One of the members of the public offered him a place to live in Tonopah, Nevada, and helped him find employment shortly after.
Sadly, Catman was discovered decomposing in his garage in November 2012. Until much later, not much was known about his passing.
In her blog post, “Dennis’s boundary-breaking life was never an easy one, and as he was fond of saying, he “found fame, but never fortune,” “Sharon Larratt, who knew Stalking Cat, revealed what had happened on her blog, BMEzine. He was a wonderful and complicated man, sometimes as troubled as he was remarkable, and he recently committed suicide at the age of 54. ”.
He served as an example for many people. Rest in peace, departed.
