hair loss in cats

Question
I have a cat that has been losing her fur for several months. She scratches and licks all the time. Today I saw a what looked like a white ?worm around her anus. Is this what I saw or what? My vet and I have been trying to find the cause of her hair loss, but she didn't check her for worms.

Answer
That is probably a tapeworm and she should be dewormed with Drontal Plus.  Usually tapeworms are gotten from fleas or rodents.  Since she is itching and losing hair, I would highly suggest applying ADVANTAGE to her ONCE a month as it is very likely that she has Flea Bite Allergy.  In addition, I would recommend that you put her on a hypoallergenic diet such as Z/D or Nature's Recipe Venison and Rice.