Sherri Lee Merrill, age 11., of Huntington Beach, California, for her question:

Does shedding mean an animal is getting old?

It is true that some people shed their hair as they grow older. But as a rule, the furry mammals shed for other reasons. Hairs are strands of dead cells that grow from living roots in the skin. Every day a few old ones fall out and new ones start growing in to replace them. They also grow and shed hairs to create warmer winter coats and cooler summer coats. When spring comes, they do a lot of extra shedding. This is a natural, seasonal event.

Cats and dogs try hard to keep spic and span, but they shed a little every day and a lot in the spring. A dog appreciates it when you give him a brushing or a bath. A cat deserves a brushing every few days, otherwise she licks away her shedding fur and swallows it. This sort of pet grooming also keeps hairs off the furniture. It is not healthy for a pet to shed enough hair to leave bald patches. If this happens, please take him or her to an animal doctor for treatment.