Dennis Avner found dead after years of trying to look like a cat

A man whose numerous tattoos, piercings and other cosmetic surgeries earned him the world-record for body modifications died earlier this month under unclear circumstances.
Dennis Avner, known as “Cat Man” was found dead on Nov. 5 in his home of Tonopah, Nevada.
The 54-year-old former US Navy sonar technician, also known by his Native American name Stalking Cat, had become famous for transforming his face to resemble a tiger.
His cause of death has not been released, but it is believed he took his own life.
Shannon Larratt, who knew Stalking Cat, wrote in a blog post that Avner had tried to adopt the spiritual essence of the animal world. He had tried to transform “himself not just into a tiger, but a female tiger at that, blurring and exploring the gender line as much as the species line.”