LEGO’s Orange Cat Set Controversy Explained
LEGO is no stranger to controversy, but the company’s latest animal-themed release has sparked a surprisingly intense debate within its global fan community. The newly revealed LEGO Orange Cat set, positioned as a companion piece to the popular LEGO Tuxedo Cat, has quickly become one of the most polarizing LEGO releases in recent memory.
At a glance, the Orange Cat LEGO set appears to follow a proven formula. It’s a brick-built display model mostly designed for adult fans, it leans heavily into realism, and it clearly targets pet lovers rather than traditional play-focused builders. However, what initially looked like a safe follow-up has instead ignited discussions about design reuse, color accuracy, and how effectively animal LEGO sets can represent one’s furry friends.
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LEGO’s Orange Cat Set Has Divided the Fanbase, And Color Might Be the Real Culprit
A Familiar Build With Minimal Changes
One of the main points of contention is how closely the Orange Cat mirrors the previously released Tuxedo Cat LEGO set, which became one of the best-selling LEGO sets around. While LEGO has not marketed it as a simple recolor, many fans were quick to notice that the underlying structure remains largely unchanged. That said, there are differences, even if they’re subtle.
Key Differences Between the Orange Cat and the Tuxedo Cat Sets
- Minor facial detailing changes, including small adjustments to eye contrast to suit the lighter fur
- The Tuxedo Cat set had a piece-swap option to have an open mouth, whereas the Orange Cat set features an openable piece for the mouth
- Some pieces on the side of the Orange Cat set are a bit spiky in order to give a more realistic feel to the fur, whereas the Tuxedo Cat set is “flatter” and rounder overall
- Inverse position of the tail, wrapping around the cat’s left side instead of the right side of the Tuxedo Cat set
- The headpiece no longer rotates 360 degrees and now has a stopping mechanism
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Despite these tweaks, critics argue that the overall silhouette, pose, and build experience are nearly identical, making the set feel less like a new model and more like a cosmetic variant, especially when compared to other 2026 LEGO sets. This even prompted some social media users to state that, for the set’s cost, you can just adopt an orange cat from your local shelter.
Why the Color Choice for the Orange Cat Set Matters More Than LEGO Expected
Interestingly, the biggest criticism isn’t about the reused design, but rather it’s about the specific shade of orange LEGO chose. Unlike black and white, orange is not a universal shade in real-world cats. The shade used in the set is more like bronze or cinnamon than orange, almost red/brown in shade, which only represents a relatively small subset of orange cats. Many real-life orange cats are:
- Deeper, darker ginger
- Brighter and more saturated
- Muted with brown or reddish undertones
- Plain orange fur with no white parts, or at least lighter orange in place of white
Technically, cats are not “orange,” but rather the official definition is red.
As a result, some fans feel the set fails to capture the diversity typically associated with orange cats, making it harder for owners to see their own pets reflected in the model. It doesn’t help that LEGO’s adorable animal sets are pretty scarce overall, so there isn’t much else to choose from within this category.
Why the Tuxedo Cat Avoided This Problem Entirely
The comparison to the Tuxedo Cat is unavoidable and possibly revealing. Black-and-white coloration is highly standardized, both in nature and in LEGO’s existing color palette. There’s little ambiguity in how a tuxedo cat should look, which allowed LEGO to sidestep the issue of color accuracy altogether. While there are many examples of different-looking tuxedo cats, some with more white than black, others with more irregular patterns, and so on, the color palette is not up for debate.
With orange, that margin for error disappears. What worked flawlessly for a bichrome animal suddenly becomes far more complex when warmth, saturation, and realism come into play, especially for a LEGO adult set aimed more at collectors.
Fans Are Split Down the Middle
On one side, supporters argue:
- The LEGO set is beautiful, charming, and visually appealing
- LEGO was never aiming for perfect realism
- The model still works as a decorative, stylized piece
- Both the Orange Cat set and the Tuxedo Cat set can be combined to make a calico kitten
On the other hand, those unhappy with the set claim:
- The orange shade feels flat and artificial
- The design doesn’t justify a near-identical rebuild
- LEGO missed an opportunity for modular color variation or pattern options
This split highlights a broader issue LEGO increasingly faces: adult fans expect both emotional resonance and design ambition, especially at premium price points. Ultimately, the LEGO Orange Cat set isn’t a failure, but it’s also not the slam dunk its predecessor was. By leaning too heavily on an existing design and underestimating how personal color representation can be, LEGO may have overlooked what made the Tuxedo Cat more universally appealing.
For some fans, it’s a cozy, lovable display model. For others, it’s a reminder that when realism is the goal, details matter more than ever, and it’s hard to purchase this set for those pet owners who feel the chosen shade of orange doesn’t look like their furry friend’s. At the same time, some social media users believe a grey cat set would do wonders, and the same goes for a tabby cat set, so there is clearly an audience for these “recolors” anyway. So, if you’re wondering whether the Orange Cat set is one of the 2026 LEGO sets you shouldn’t sleep on, the answer may lie in whether you think the orange shade is fine, and whether you’re not frowning over the recolor.