BackgroundLittle information is available on the ciclosporin dose‐tapering regimen and clinical response in the treatment of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo test a dose‐tapering regimen and assess efficacy and clinical safety for up to 18 weeks.AnimalsEighty‐eight client‐owned cats with feline hypersensitivity dermatitis.MethodsCats that received either a placebo or ciclosporin at 2.5 mg/kg or 7 mg/kg daily for 6 weeks were given 7 mg/kg ciclosporin daily for 4 weeks. Depending on the clinical response, the dose was tapered from daily to every other day over the next 4 weeks and further to twice a week for an additional 4 weeks.ResultsAfter all cats received 7 mg/kg for 4 weeks, the dose could be tapered to every other day for the next 4 weeks in 70% of cats remaining in the study. During the next 4 weeks, 57, 15 and 22% of cats remaining in the study could be treated at twice a week, every other day or daily, respectively. After the first 4 weeks, the mean lesion score and owner‐assessed pruritus improved over baseline by 69 and 61%, respectively, and remained stable during the following 8 weeks. Approximately 65% of the cats in the study were reported to have an adverse event (AE), very often mild and resolving spontaneously. The most frequentAEs were gastrointestinal and included primarily vomiting and diarrhoea. Eighty per cent ofAEs occurred when cats were on daily treatment.Conclusions and clinical importanceResults suggest that the induction dose of 7 mg/kg ciclosporin can be tapered as soon as 4 weeks without deterioration of the clinical response. Establishment of the lowest effective dosing regimen of ciclosporin reduced the frequency ofAEs.