The First Cat in Space: How Félicette's Cosmic Flight Inspires Modern LEGO Builders

Sixty-three years ago today, a brave Parisian stray named Félicette reached the stars. Here is her remarkable true story, and how to re-create cosmic feline adventures with active sets available today.

LEGO Ideas Tuxedo Cat (21349) | The spitting image of Félicette, history's first feline astronaut

The Bits & Studs Perspective

Bits & Studs concludes that Félicette's 1963 space flight remains one of the most delightful chapters in history. By pairing the lifelike LEGO Tuxedo Cat with modern rocket sets, builders can celebrate humanity's boldest feline explorer in colourful plastic.

A Parisian Stray Reaches the Stars: October 18, 1963

History is full of famous space heroes. Most fans know about Laika the space dog, or Ham the chimpanzee. Yet very few people know that a brave street cat also reached the stars.

Inspired by this incredible true story that happened on this day, we wanted to celebrate her daring trip. On October 18, 1963, a calm tuxedo stray named Félicette climbed into a rocket and blasted into the sky. Today, her grand mission inspires animal lovers and LEGO builders everywhere.

Félicette began her life as an ordinary stray in the streets of Paris. In 1963, French scientists selected fourteen cats for aerospace tests. They wanted cats with calm habits and quick reflexes. While most cats run from loud noises, Félicette stayed wonderfully relaxed during every trial.

On October 18, 1963, crews placed Félicette inside a special rocket capsule in the desert. The rocket fired with a loud roar, climbing at great speed. Félicette soared high into the sky, officially reaching space. For five quiet minutes, she floated in zero gravity. Soon after, her capsule parachuted safely back to the sand, where teams found her purring and healthy.

The Living Spitting Image: Tuxedo Cat (21349)

If you want to honour this brave cat on your shelf, LEGO offers the perfect project. The Tuxedo Cat (21349) looks just like Félicette. Like the real space pioneer, this life-sized build features a glossy black coat, bright white chest, and white paws.

Putting together the cat is pure building fun. You build a strong inner frame before adding smooth curved slopes over the back. Best of all, the designers included two pairs of eyes, letting you choose between warm yellow or cool blue. With a movable head and turning paws, she looks ready to gaze out of a spaceship window.

Maximum Orbital Thrust: NASA Artemis Space Launch System (10341)

Félicette rode into the clouds on a small research rocket. However, if our favourite feline wanted to visit the Moon today, she would need serious rocket power. That is where the NASA Artemis Space Launch System (10341) enters the scene.

This gigantic model captures the pure excitement of modern space travel. You construct a tall orange fuel tank, twin white rocket boosters, and a detailed mobile launch tower. On top sits the Orion capsule, ready for deep space voyages. Placing a brick cat next to this towering launchpad makes for a proud tribute to space history.

LEGO Icons NASA Artemis Space Launch System (10341) | Towering rocket power ready for deep space exploration

Cosmic Art & Discovery: Tales of the Space Age (21340) and Space Science Lab (60439)

To capture the vintage spirit of Félicette's 1963 voyage, look no further than Tales of the Space Age (21340). This delightful set lets you construct four minimalist 3D postcards inspired by classic sci-fi art. One postcard shows a streamlined rocket roaring past cosmic planets, perfectly evoking the era when humanity and animals first ventured into the cosmos.

Meanwhile, for builders who love hands-on exploration, the Space Science Lab (60439) provides a fantastic modern research base. The dome unfolds to reveal laboratory stations, airlock chambers, and plant terrariums. It mirrors the scientific laboratories that made Félicette's historical journey possible. Together, these sets bring cosmic discovery directly onto your tabletop.

LEGO Ideas Tales of the Space Age (21340) | Minimalist retro space art evoking the golden age of cosmic flight

Félicette & Cosmic Brick Lore

• Félicette was first called C 341 by scientists to keep the study formal, but reporters soon nicknamed her Félicette after Felix the Cat.
• In 2019, space enthusiasts around the world raised money to build a bronze statue of Félicette, unveiled at the International Space University in France.
• LEGO space sets often hide tiny pet boxes, bowls, and animal surprises inside cargo bays, nodding to real animal space pioneers.

Honouring the First Feline Astronaut in Bricks

From quiet Parisian streets to the silent wonder of outer space, Félicette showed that bold explorers come in all sizes. Bits & Studs concludes that pairing historical tales like Félicette's flight with creative LEGO sets turns ordinary plastic bricks into inspiring monuments of human exploration.

Did you know about Félicette's space flight before today, or do you have the Tuxedo Cat resting by your building table? Share your favourite space builds in the comments below!