LEGO Ideas' second cat creation follows in the pawprints of the viral 21349 Tuxedo Cat, taking the opportunity to improve in the few ways it can.
It's certainly not an easy task trying to follow up on the sensation that is 21349 Tuxedo Cat, and the LEGO Ideas team's strategy to do so isn't simply to make another cat. They've taken the chance that a recoloured re-release provides to make some much-needed upgrades and appropriate changes to what was already one of the standout builds of 2024.
21349 Tuxedo Cat
Release: Jun 1, 2024
Retiring: Dec 31, 2027
Price: £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99
Pieces: 1,710
21376 Orange Cat
Release: Mar 1, 2026
Retiring: Dec 31, 2028
Price: £89.99 / $99.99 / €99.99
Pieces: 1,755
At 1,755 elements, 21376 Orange Cat has 45 more pieces than 21349 Tuxedo Cat. Thankfully, it costs the same despite this slight increase, still demonstrating the incredible value that the original build was known for. This new version of the LEGO Ideas cat has also been designed to be explicitly compatible with that older cat thanks to one simple decision.
21376 Orange Cat's most obvious change that you may immediately overlook is that the tail is now curved to the opposite side compared to 21349 Tuxedo Cat. This means that the two plastic felines can sit side by side.
This is just the first in many thoughtful changes made in 21376 Orange Cat, but deep down it's the same underlying build, and one thing that hasn't changed is the pose. Two years after the first feline, and unlike the recent
21376 Orange Cat sits in an elegant pose with its paws on display and its tail curled around its body. While some level of movement would have been appreciated in this second take on the cat, the model as is has just enough movement thanks to the turning head. The head on the original 21349 Tuxedo Cat could spin 360 degrees, leading to some funny but unsettling videos online. This has been changed in 21376 Orange Cat by modifying the construction of the neck's interior to incorporate a limiter, which allows the head to turn roughly 45 degrees left or right.
It's not often that such a limitation in a LEGO set leaves a good impression, especially when there was no such obstacle in the original iteration of the build. In this case, though, it only makes the cat that much more lifelike, and if it's a deal-breaker for you, just remove the red element, and you have full freedom of movement.
The 2026 build also benefits from more movement in another key area. The mouth of 21349 Tuxedo Cat can be opened by rebuilding a small section of its head. You have to do this every time you want to open the mouth, but this is no longer the case in 21376 Orange Cat; the ginger feline's mouth can open with no rebuilding required.
These and other changes from 21349 Tuxedo Cat to 21376 Orange Cat play into the higher piece count in the 2026 set, especially since part availability meant that simply recolouring the original model wasn't an option.
"The reason that there is a different number of parts is primarily that we had to change them," designer Chris McVeigh explained in a roundtable interview with Brick Fanatics and other LEGO fan media. "21376 Orange Cat is not a direct one-to-one swap. Where we have the medium nougat in certain places, we had to use different but similar parts in place of pieces that we used in the black cat.
"One thing that we have in this cat is a 3x3 slope, whereas in the previous cat, in certain places, we would have used a 4x3 slope instead. So some optimisation of the usage of medium nougat played into there being a higher part count, of course."
While a lot has visually changed between
Other visual differences include more white chest fluff and no white tip on the tail, both of which help to differentiate the two models when placed side by side.
Medium nougat is also a good pick for the recolour for this cat, toeing the line between any specific breed and looking close enough to several kinds of orange cats to be more than satisfactory (even if it's missing any hint of stripes). Trust me, it looks much more vibrant in natural light.
One key change made to the model with the expanded parts palette, and lessons learned from another LEGO Ideas creature creation, was to amend the texture of the fur to be noticeably fluffier, but without adding too much volume to the model.
"Structurally, it's virtually identical," said Chris. "So any of the changes that were made to this were primarily aesthetic. After using the pagoda plate in 21361 Gizmo, I thought to bring that in to just give it a little bit of a fluffy quality – though it was actually a fairly late addition to the orange cat – by putting that plate in several different locations."
Whether you're new to the LEGO Ideas cat sensation or are seeking a friend for 21349 Tuxedo Cat, 21376 Orange Cat is a remarkable improvement on the original model. It upgrades the build in ways we'd never imagined and achieves this without overshadowing the original release, which is a huge accomplishment in itself.
As someone who grew up with a tortoise shell cat, but has since developed allergies, I've found a lot to love in this second cat creation and enjoy the simulated companionship when it is sitting on a shelf nearby. The bonus of not sneezing every few minutes is also appreciated.
With its few upgrades and visual changes, 21376 Orange Cat isn't necessarily a competitor to the initial LEGO Ideas set, but an alternative or possible companion for those with the right budget. You certainly don't need this build if you already own 21349 Tuxedo Cat, but whether as your second or first LEGO feline, 21376 Orange Cat is fur-ociously good.
This LEGO set was provided by the LEGO Group for review.
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