There have been many toy crazes over the last few years, all of them seemingly a little more complex than the last. The reason for this is that technology itself is growing at such an incredible rate that toys these days are just getting more realistic and cool to have. This year is no different with the introduction of Zhu Zhu Pets.

These adorable little toys are made in the image of the average hamster, but without all the upkeep. They look and feel as though they are real, live hamsters, and yet they do not require being fed and watered. Best of all, the hamster will never die, so long as you continue to replace his batteries.

But what makes it worth the money? Live hamsters themselves can be found for as little as 8-9 dollars a piece, but the abundance of accessories to make a play land for them can get costly in a hurry. Certainly anyone can see the perk of not having to clean cages or replace food and water every day, but many are concerned with the educational values of this type of toy. These people believe that the kids aren’t learning real responsibility to care for an animal, when it never dies or needs any cleaning up after.