Buying hamster toys may be a rat race

CLAYTON, Mo. (NBC) - As fast as you can say Zhu Zhu Pet, Cepia Toy Company is making them and people are buying them.

In fact, getting your hands on just one Zhu Zhu Pet these days is a bit of a rat race.

"We are the No. 1 toy right now," said Director of Marketing Strategies Natalie Hornsby. "I know Times Square Toys R Us had a separate line and handed out tickets for people looking for Zhu Zhu Pets."

It comes as a surprise to many that the most-wanted toy in the land this year was born behind glass doors in Clayton, Mo.

"'Are you based in New York? Are you based in LA? Are you based in Chicago?' No, we're in St. Louis, Missouri," said Hornsby.

Only 16 employees work there. Lately, this small business is fielding thousands of phone calls, e-mails, letters and even people knocking on their door - all wondering the same thing.

"'Where's the distribution? What's going on?' The product is out there, but the demand for a product like this hasn't been around for a really long time. So, truly millions have been sold," said Hornsby.

Each Zhu Zhu Pet comes with a different name, symbol and even its own voice.

And all of the voices, by the way, are from the employees in the Missouri office.

Cepia Toys promises millions more Zhu Zhu Pets to be made so everyone can have one. They can be found at Hallmark, Target, Toys R Us and Walmart.