Zhu Zhu Pets Review

Just about every child I know wants a pet.  When I was little I had pets.  I had fish, a dog, and a hamster.  My hamsters name were Mickey and Squeaky.  They were so soft and cuddly, but best of all, so much fun to play with.  I would watch them run in their wheel, and in their tunnels, and best of all, the ball.  That was until they escaped.  Then we had a scavenger hunt on our hands!  We found the hamsters in the heating vents, chewing the leg of the coffee table, behind the TV or wherever they could squeeze their little bodies!  And, I was only able to get the hamster when I was old enough to take care of it myself.  I had to feed it, give it water daily, play with it, and change its cage...(YUCK!)
If you buy a Zhu Zhu Pet, you won't have to worry about any of this.  If you remember, Zhu Zhu Pets were one of the hottest toys for the 2009 holiday season.  I will bet that 2010 will be no different with the introduction of new Zhu Zhu's and the Kung Zhu line of Zhu Zhu pets. 

These plush robotic hamsters are the cutest!  They are fun and entertaining for kids and adults alike.  They run around the house just like real hamsters, get under the sofa, in and out of corners and continue wiggling around, just like a real hamster.  These Zhu Zhu's are interactive, have their own personality and make their own unique sounds.  I will also tell you that they do look real.  From someone who occasionally gets a mouse in the house, when I have to stop and take a second look to see if it is real, I'd say that is pretty lifelike.

I wanted to find out more about how these little hamsters work.  A review I found that explains that the "underside of each hamster is covered in molded plastic -- called bump codes -- that keeps the furry creatures from repeating the same moves over and over again".  That is what makes them so life like and realistic.  Their unpredictability makes them so much fun.

There are three modes of play these Zhu Zhu Pets.  The modes include Talk Mode, Explore Mode, and Sleep Mode.  In Talk Mode,  is considered the "nurturing and loving" mode.  You can press the head button to make your pet make many cute sounds.  The Explore Mode allows your pet to get out there and have some real fun!  You press the back button to activate your Pet and then let them loose to scamper around.  If your hamster bumps it's nose, it will back up to find a clear path to run about.  If you hamster accidentally falls over, the tilt sensor will be activated and the motor on your hamster will stop and it will go into Talk Mode.  The Sleep Mode will let your Pet rest and conserve the batteries.  You can activate it again by pressing on the head or back button. 

There are so many accessories that go along with the Zhu Zhu Pets.  You can find clothes, habitats, play sets, and so much more to go along with your new Pet.  Your child will have many hours of imaginative play with these toys.  Zhu Zhu Pets will help your child to develop an imaginary world where these hamster come alive. 

These toys are recommended for ages 4 and up.  I did let my 18 month old son play with the Zhu Zhu's (with supervision).  He loved the hamster!  He laid on the floor to watched it run around and he squealed and laughed as it chased him around the kitchen.  I would not let him play with this on his own since it does have wheels and there is a waring that your hair could get caught.  My son doesn't have much hair at this point, so I am really more concerned with the moving parts. 

As a parent, I can see the upside of these hamsters. You can allow you child to have a pet without all fuss, mess, and arguments that may ensue after the high of having a new pet happens.  There is no messy cage, smell or chewed furniture to worry about either!

Here are some of the Bios you will find on ZhuZhu Pets Website.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Toy Nugget: Nugget is the dreamer of the Zhu Zhu Pets crew.  Her head is often in the clouds, but her paws are on the ground!  Her favorite thing to do is catch butterflies and find shapes in the clouds.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Toy Patches: Patches is the Zhu Zhu hamster that is always on the move.  She loves flowers and will do anything, run on the wheel, slip on slides, and go through crazy u-turns to sniff some delicious petals.  While she is always moving and running around, she still makes time to spend with her human friends.  Patches is huggable, lovable, zhu-zhu-zhu-oom-able hamster and friend.

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Toy Peachy: Peachy is a southern belle, who is known for her cuteness, hospitality, and award winning peach cobbler.  Everyone in the country tries to replicate her recipe, but no one has ever been successful!  When we asked Peachy what was the secret ingredient, she said lots of sugar, darlin'!"

Check out Zhu Zhu Pets online too.  You will find  Hamster Bios,  Fun and Games, News and Events, Info and Instructions, and much more!  Zhu Zhu Pets sell for about $9.99 each and accessories like clothes and battle armor, retail for about $4.99-$7.99.  Additional play sets will retail from $9.99 to $19.99.


Cepia, LLC provided me with the products reviewed above in order to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% mine.