The Ginger Cat

Detailed ratings

In-depth review analysis

LEGO Ideas 21376 Orange Cat is above all a variant of 21349 Tuxedo Cat. All three reviews describe a very close relationship with the black-and-white cat: the main changes are the colour, a few details on the head and coat, and a mirrored tail. The set contains 1,755 pieces, 45 more than its predecessor. That closeness matters when assessing the model: it may appeal to people who want a cat in another colour, but it offers limited novelty to those who already own the first one.

The Brothers Brick compared the manuals for the two sets and found very few structural differences beyond the recoloured parts. The build uses a shell around a frame, with a mirrored arrangement that the reviewer finds easy to follow. Its hollow core keeps the model from becoming overly heavy or dense with pieces. The reviewer even used the empty space inside the upper body to add a small cat scene of her own; this was a personal modification, not an included feature. She would have liked LEGO to provide a similar surprise.

The design changes are otherwise relatively small. According to Brickset, the chin has been redesigned and the area behind the ears slightly altered; the neck can no longer rotate through 360 degrees. Nevertheless, the outlet considers the head, which is otherwise very close to the Tuxedo Cat’s, highly successful. The Brothers Brick also mentions an improved mouth and choices of eye colour. The tail is mirrored relative to the first cat’s. For hothbricks, this arrangement allows the two models to be displayed side by side on a shelf without their tails getting in each other’s way.

Visually, Brickset praises an almost life-sized display cat, while finding its coat markings less realistic than the Tuxedo Cat’s. hothbricks notes that the chosen colour is Medium Nougat, rather than a ginger or orange shade that literally matches the product name. The Brothers Brick reports that recreating stripes across the rounded body and tail without extensive printing or stickers would have been difficult while preserving the original design. These observations explain some of the noted visual limitations without eliminating the difference of opinion about the result.

The appeal of this variant also divides the reviewers. The Brothers Brick regards it as a charming addition to the range of display animals and highlights its appeal to orange-cat lovers. Brickset sees it as a suitable companion for the Tuxedo Cat, but acknowledges that it could also be viewed as an uninspired recolouring. hothbricks would have preferred a different pose to avoid lining up models that look too similar. The result is therefore less a new interpretation of a cat than a variation designed to accompany the first one.

The box contains a single instruction manual. The Brothers Brick says it includes, among other things, an updated introduction to designer Damian Andres and an explanation of the main differences between the two cats. hothbricks believes the modular design could have allowed the instructions to be divided among several booklets. The excerpts do not, however, provide enough information to rate the clarity of the manual itself.

Price is a positive point in the reviews by The Brothers Brick and Brickset: it remains aligned with the Tuxedo Cat’s despite the additional pieces. The Brothers Brick also identifies more than 30 recoloured elements, which may appeal to people looking for Medium Nougat parts. Brickset has no complaints about the price. The excerpts do not, however, sufficiently document the model’s resistance or how it holds up over time to assign a durability rating.

Strengths

• Shell-over-frame construction that The Brothers Brick finds easy to follow.
• Almost life-sized display cat, with a head praised by Brickset.
• Mirrored tail makes it easier to display alongside the Tuxedo Cat.
• Price maintained despite 45 additional pieces and many recoloured parts.

Weaknesses

• Build and pose are very close to those of the Tuxedo Cat.
• Brickset finds the coat markings less realistic than those of the first cat.
• A single manual, whereas hothbricks would have preferred several booklets.
• Limited neck movement: it cannot rotate through 360 degrees.

Where reviewers disagree

The Brothers Brick finds this variant charming, whereas hothbricks would have preferred a different pose to avoid models that look too similar. — The Brothers Brick · hothbricks

Publications consulted

The Brothers Brick · 2026-02-20

hothbricks · 2026-02-03

Brickset.com · Date not provided