You've probably heard of Ty Beanie Babies and Webkinz, but have you heard of the newest toy animals, the ZhuZhu Pets? You might be wondering what is a Zhu Zhu pet. ZhuZhu pets are huggable, lovable toys made for 3 to 10 year old children.

These new toys by Cephia LLC will be available starting September 1, 2009. The ZhuZhu Pets include a Funhouse with Hamster set, and a set of three hamsters who each have their own characteristics. They're an innovative new plush toy which has artificial intelligence built in. They're fully motorized, smart electronic pets that your kids will be able to play with and enjoy for hours, days, weeks and months!

Get the latest Zhu Zhu pets here!

Simply push a button on the back of the ZhuZhu pet to activate one of two modes: nurture or adventure mode. As the ZhuZhu toy hamster gets petted or loved, it will make chattering noises.

They also feature an interesting "Explore Mode" or "Adventure" mode when you press another button on the toy's back. Explore Mode enables these hamsters to scoot, scamper, bump and boogie across the floor! The ZhuZhu's feature 60 seconds of sound and motion, with the hamsters reacting to various things in their environment.

They make for hours of fun and entertainment. They're basically just like real hamsters minus the work of cleaning up or feeding them!

You can purchase a set of 3 Zhu Zhu hamsters. The names of the 3 ZhuZhu pet hamsters are Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums and Chunk. Each of these hamsters has its own different personality and characteristic, making them unique and fun to use!

Chunk is described as the cool, laid back surfer type of the group.

Num Nums is always in search of food, so look out if she catches the scent of something yummy!

Mr. Squiggles is the more experienced member of the group, the one who's tried just about everything. He's always looking for a new adventure though!

There's also a fourth hamster named Pipsqueak, not included in the 3 pack.  Pipsqueak is petite but full of curiosity.  She loves to play the role of daredevil, always looking to find some new fun stunts to try!

The ZhuZhu pets weight under 1 pound total, and they come with six AAA batteries for power. Recommended age for these toys is 3 to 10 years old.

The ZhuZhu Pets Funhouse set sells for about $30 and is a specially designed living space for "Patches the Hamster" who is included with the set. Like the hamsters described above, patches also responds to being petted or nurtured, and has his own unique personality. The house is colorful and fun environment which has a connector track section. This special attachment allows Patches to use his artificial intelligence and create funny sounds or movements. The Funhouse is designed for hours of fun and has lots of openings for other accessories. Use the funhouse to start building your own hamster habitat!

The ZhuZhu pets world doesn't stop with the Funhouse! There's also many other collectible add-ons and play items you can buy to go with your hamsters. There's the Surfboard & Sleep Dome, the Skateboard & U-Turn ramp, and a Hamster Wheel & Tunnel. Also there is a hamster car and garage set,

Currently, ZhuZhu pets can be ordered online through retailer Amazon.com.  They will be available in stores across the country including Wal Mart and Toys R Us!   You might even see the Zhu Zhu pets making an appearance at a local ballpark!

So why buy a ZhuZhu electronic hamster?  Many kids are always asking their parents for a pet cat, dog or hamster.  The Zhu Zhu pet will provide a way to give your child a pet they can play with, but won't have to be "too responsible" for.  Basically, there's no feeding or cleaning up after it involved, and it provides a smart means of fun for hours!  More ZhuZhu toys can be added in to expand their hamster habitat!  Your kids will love these!

Here are some general troubleshooting methods for your ZhuZhu pets. They are made for unpredictability, so don't panic if it does something unexpected. Keep in mind that each of the Hamsters is designed to act differently, so it may not act the same each time you use it. It's recommended you make sure the AAA batteries are seated securely inside the hamster. If the hamster is making sounds but its wheels don't turn, batteries may need to be replaced.

Also, it's recommended you use the ZhuZhu hamsters on hard, smooth surfaces. They won't work properly on carpets and should not be used on grass, sand, mud or wet areas. If the hamster manages to get wet, it's advised that you remove the batteries and let it air dry overnight before attempting to operate the toy again. Never soak the toy in water to clean it. Instead use spot cleaning.

The ZhuZhu hamsters will go to sleep from time to time. They're designed to reset sleep mode each time the hamster passes over a code on one of the play sets. You can make the hamster go to sleep manually by pressing the back button while it is in Explore Mode.

For more help with troubleshooting see the website below.