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Moose Toys Scruff-a-Luvs
Scruff-a-Luvs, the hot new holiday toy from Moose Toys.
Courtesy of Moose Toys
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Scruff-A-Luvs are shaping up to be the hot toy of the 2018 holiday season. In fact, these interactive, colorful toy pets are so popular that they’re already selling out — weeks before Black Friday.

For the uninitiated, Scruff-A-Luvs are the newest toys from the Little Live Pets brand, owned by parent company Moose Toys, the business behind the popular Shopkins line of collectibles.

Little Live Scruff-A-Luvs fall into the category of “mystery pets.” They start out as indistinguishable matted balls of fur.

Courtesy of Target

But when your kid gives them a bath, dries them, and combs out their fur, a Scruff-A-Luv turns into a recognizable puppy, kitten, or bunny rabbit. (Not knowing what kind of critter you’re going to get is part of the appeal… and, of course, is a good way to keep kids wanting to collect the whole menagerie.)

Courtesy of Target

At the moment, the little blue Scruff-A-Luvs is sold out at Walmart. It's worth keeping an eye on Walmart's site for restocks, however, because before they sold out, this Scruff-A-Luvs was listed at $17.72, which is a little cheaper than the most common price for Scruff-A-Luvs (just under $20). The pink Scruff-A-Luv is only available at Walmart's site through third-party sellers, at a pretty hefty markup (over $37).

Amazon still has both colors of Scruff-A-Luvs in stock, at $19.99 for the pink Scruff-A-Luv and $19.72 for the blue Scruff-a-Luv. What's more, Amazon just announced that all customers — including shoppers who are not Amazon Prime members — get free shipping on all purchases for the 2018 holiday season, with no minimum purchase required.

Earlier on Monday, Amazon's price for the blue Scruff-A-Luvs was under $18, perhaps because it was matching or undercutting Walmart's price. So prices on Scruff-A-Luvs may vary depending on where and when you purchase, and deals are possible. For that matter, higher prices are very much a possibility too: A limited-edition purple Scruff-A-Luv, still available through Amazon’s platform of sellers, will set you back $28.99 right now.

Courtesy of Amazon

Target still has Scruff-A-Luvs in stock for $19.99 as well, in both pink and blue varieties. You can also score Scruff-A-Luvs at Best Buy for $19.99, but the description "styles may vary" indicates that you'll not only be surprised by what critter is inside, but what color you'll have shipped to you, as well.

Courtesy of Best Buy

Will Scruff-A-Luvs hold onto its current status as the absolute hottest holiday toy of 2018, and soon be sold out at stores all over the country? It's hard to say this early in the season, but that's the way things are looking right now.

So parents, it could be wise to get a move on if you don't want to be like all the people last year who waited too late to try and buy Fingerlings monkeys.

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