Zhu Zhu Pets are essentially motorized toy hamsters that can “interact” with their owners, and they are the must-have toys for Christmas 2009. Because of the high demand, they can be hard to find, especially at a reasonable price. However, with persistence–and possibly some extra cash–it is possible to find one in time for the holidays.

Currently, there are five Zhu Zhu Pets, each with a different name. Accessories are also available at an additional cost. These include a bed, a funhouse, and a slide, to name just a few. Zhu Zhu Pets are available in retail stores such as Walmart, Target, K-Mart, and Toys “R” Us, all of which sell the toys for $8 to $10 when they are in stock. The same brick-and-mortar stores that carry these toys also sell them online. In addition, Amazon.com and eToys.com have them for about the same price.

If you cannot find any Zhu Zhu Pets on the shelf at any of your local stores, ask when they expect to have another shipment. If they are unable to tell you, keep calling back to check. Some stores will allow you to pre-order the Zhu Zhu Pet of your choice. If this option is available to you, it is a good idea to take advantage of it. However, some stores may guarantee a pet but not a specific one.

If you truly cannot wait and do not mind paying more, there are other options. Many online retailers carry these toys and can be discovered through the search engine of your choice. These vendors are well aware of the demand and have priced their wares to maximize their profit. In addition, several of the private sellers at Amazon.com have Zhu Zhu Pets available at a very high price. In fact, you could end up paying more than $50 for an $8 toy.

Online auction sites such as eBay are also good to check and may be somewhat less expensive, but you should take care not to get caught up in a bidding war that could drive the price far beyond what you would normally be willing to pay. Decide what your maximum price is and do not exceed it.

Newspapers, local ad publications, bulletin boards, and online message boards can be good sources for hard-to-find items. Check around to see whether anyone is selling Zhu Zhu Pets. Do not assume that they have already been removed from their packaging and used; people often buy several high-demand items with the intent to resell them. The price may be good or it may be outrageous. Only you can determine how much you are willing to pay.

If you are determined to give a Zhu Zhu Pet as a Christmas gift but cannot find one in time at the price you want to pay, there is another option. Print or cut out a picture of one of the toys and wrap it. When your child opens the gift, explain that the Zhu Zhu Pet is on its way but will not arrive until after Christmas.