The Hottest Christmas Toy: Zhu Zhu Pets Review

Zhu Zhu Pets have taken the toy industry by storm and are consuming most of the spots on the list of the Top Ten Toys for Christmas.  In this article, we will have a look at Zhu Zhu pets including what they are and why the heck they are so popular.

So, how popular are Zhu Zhu Pets?  The chief executive officer of Toys R Us said that they may not include Zhu Zhu Pets in their catalogue due to overwhelming demand and he did not want to disappoint customers if they were unavailable.  If Toys R Us may not be able to stock them, you know that Zhu Zhu Pets are considered the best toys for Christmas 2009!

Zhu Zhu Pets are made by a company called Cepia out of St. Louis, Missouri.  The company, only recently founded in 2004 by Russel Hornsby, realized the potential of these little critters when they flew off the shelves after their initial release.  The product line has been so popular that Cepia has had difficulty keeping up with demand.  Thus, Zhu Zhu Pets are often hard to find and are sometimes priced higher due to demand.

What are Zhu Zhu Pets?

They are little Hamsters that come in five different characters:  Patches, Chunk, PipSqueak, Mr. Squiggles, and Num Nums.  These five different hamster characters can function on their own but they are much more fun when you purchase the accessories to create a hamster habitat.

A good way to begin the adventure is with the Funhouse Set with Hamster.  This will get you started with 1 hamster, Patches, and a funhouse environment.  The package includes a large kitchen and living room, a hallway, and bathroom areas.  This is the beginning of your Hamster Habitat.

If your kids enjoy this initial set, then you will want to purchase the other Hamsters as well more accessories for the funhouse.  This allows you to see the full "intelligence" of the hamsters as they play in their habitat and make interesting sounds and funny movements.

Zhu Zhu Pets are designed for ages 3 and up but are probably are not good gifts for teenagers as they appeal to those under 10 year old.  My kids, ages 3 and 5, enjoyed all the add-on accessories to the Hamster habitat but probably enjoyed the Hamster Wheel and the Add on Garage the most.  With the Hamster wheel, you get to see the little robotic hamsters make the wheel spin and then slide down the ramp afterward.  And with the Add on Garage, you get a sedan car and garage allowing the hamster to cruise around your house.

The enormous popularity of the Zhu Zhu Pets is a testament to how much the kids enjoy this toy.  Kids love little snuggly pets as well as moving objects.  Zhu Zhu Pets combine these two elements to make for the most popular toy this Christmas.