What the Heck is a Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster?

What the Heck is a Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster

I was honestly a little creeped out the first time I heard of about the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster line. The idea of an AI (Artificial Intelligence) hamster didn't quite sit right with me--maybe because I got worried about my cats choking on a spring. But apparently they're all the rage this year (and probably will be next year, too).

First off, this isn't some mass-bred hamster eugenicised for intelligence and slapped with some good (well, effective) marketing. Nope, these guys are little mechanical pseudo-hamsters that let your kids bask in the joy of having pet hamsters without letting you have the fun of cleaning up all the messes, looking in the pantry for lost rodents, or explaning why Fluffy the cat wanted to kill you little one's new best friend.

In a way, these little guys are a direct descendant of the Furbie. They run around and interact with their environment (and each other) in an, well, interactive sort of way. They can each be switched between different modes--Loving mode and Explorer mode--to either run all over the place or else sit in your kids' hands and gurgle and coo.

The marketing copy says that they each Zhu Zhu Pet responds to its environment "according to its mode and personality." Yes, they make'em with personalities. What kind of personalities to they have? Well, there are four:

Num Nums is the cuddly one who loves to "cuddle and snack". What he snacks on, I'm not so sure. But he sounds like the perfect hamster for your little nurturer, or anybody who wants the ultimate in cute (that doesn't leave little pellets laying around).

Pipsqueak is a little yellow guy with a "go get'em" attitude. He's the electronic hamster version of the little boy who likes to go out and play in the mud.

All I know about Squiggles (I don't own one of this kind) is that he is supposed to have a "been there, done that" attitude. I guess he is pretty relaxed. Maybe he speaks French.

Chunk is the "easy-going surfer" Zhu Zhu who likes to "lay back and hang out". I don't know what that means, either. But it sounds like he helps keep the kids out of trouble.

As you might imagine, Cepia LLC also makes several Hamster Habitats for the little guys. You can buy running wheel, slide, running ball--even a little car! Each one of the pets interacts with the environment in his own way. Maybe you'll want to keep little Pipsqueek out of the Zhu Zhu Hamster car, y'know?

The magnificent Zhu Zhu Pets Princess Castle