How much should a Maltese eat?
Adult weight range 2–4 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 9–10 months of age · raw rate 3.0% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
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Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Maltese portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 kg | 118 kcal | 188 kcal | 46 g | 0.5 | 23 g | 60 g |
| 3.0 kg | 160 kcal | 255 kcal | 62 g | 0.6 | 31 g | 90 g |
| 4.0 kg | 198 kcal | 317 kcal | 77 g | 0.8 | 39 g | 120 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 3.0% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 3.0 kg Maltese
A 3.0 kg adult Maltese (neutered): RER 160 × 1.6 = 255 kcal − 26 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 62 g — that is 31 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Maltese puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 9–10 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 9–10 months.
Feeding notes for the Maltese
Toy breeds gain invisibly under long coats, and every extra 100 g on a 3 kg frame is proportionally like 2 kg on a person. The inactive factor and a strict treat budget matter more here than anywhere else.
What makes feeding a Maltese different: Tiny and long-coated, Maltese hide weight gain completely — judge condition by feeling the ribs, not by looking. Weigh portions in grams: a few grams is a large share of the day, and dental crowding means small kibble suits them better.
Health, treats and the senior years: Maltese are prone to dental crowding, so small kibble and dental chews counted inside the treat budget pay off twice. In old age, keep meals small and regular and the coat out of the food bowl — a Maltese that stops eating is a vet visit, not a reason to offer richer food.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Maltese do best on three small meals a day rather than two — tiny stomachs suit little-and-often, and small kibble suits a tiny mouth with crowded teeth. They are famously fussy, so keep the routine strict: the same food, the same times, and the bowl taken away after fifteen minutes if untouched.
Weight & condition for the Maltese: Tiny and long-coated, Maltese hide weight gain completely — judge condition by feeling the ribs, not by looking. Weigh portions in grams: a few grams is a large share of the day at this size. Dental crowding is common in the breed, so small kibble suits them better, and dental chews count inside the treat budget.
Body condition check: A number on the scale is not a body condition. Score the dog on the 9-point scale and aim for 4–5 — ribs palpable through a thin fat layer, waist visible from above, abdomen tucked when viewed from the side. Can't feel the ribs? Feed 10% under the table. Ribs plainly visible? Feed 10% over it.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 9–10 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Maltese
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 3 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Maltese feeding questions
How much food should a Maltese eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (2–4 kg), a Maltese needs about 188–317 kcal/day — 46–77 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (3.0 kg) needs about 255 kcal/day, roughly 62 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should a Maltese eat?
Three small meals a day suit a Maltese better than two — about a third of the daily 62 g (255 kcal) at each sitting for a 3.0 kg adult. A tiny stomach does better on little-and-often, and small kibble suits a tiny mouth with crowded teeth. A maltese that turns up its nose at breakfast should have the bowl lifted after fifteen minutes — not topped up with treats, which trains pickiness.
How many cups of food does a Maltese need per day?
About 62 g/day is roughly 0.6 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. At this size the margin is tiny — a heaped cup instead of a level one can add a fifth of the whole day, which is why a gram scale pays off most for small dogs.
How do I switch a Maltese to a new food?
Over 7 days: 25% new food for 2 days, 50% for 2 days, 75% for 2 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. Small dogs should not skip meals during a switch: if your Maltese refuses the new mix for more than a day, slow down and check with your vet rather than letting them go hungry. If stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra day or two.
How much should a Maltese puppy eat?
Maltese puppies finish growing fast — adult factors from about 9–10 months. Portions use the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, split into 3–4 small meals; tiny stomachs and fast metabolisms punish missed or oversized meals.
How much raw food does a Maltese need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 3.0% of ideal body weight, a 3.0 kg Maltese eats about 90 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding a Maltese change as they age?
From about 9–10 months a Maltese counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 3.0 kg Maltese from 255 to about 223 kcal/day — roughly 54 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Maltese may hold condition on the adult number.
How much food does a Maltese eat per day?
A 3.0 kg adult needs about 255 kcal/day — roughly 62 g of typical kibble after the treat allowance, or about 31 g per meal. That is a very small handful, which is why a gram scale matters: a heaped scoop can add a fifth of the whole day, and at this size a single biscuit is a real share of it.
What size kibble is best for a Maltese?
Small kibble, because Maltese often have crowded teeth and a tiny mouth — large pieces get swallowed whole or left uneaten. The kibble size doesn't change the portion (62 g/day for a 3.0 kg adult), but it does change whether the dog actually eats it. Dental chews help, but they count inside the 26 kcal/day treat budget.
Related calculators
Raw & BARF Calculator
Daily raw grams split into meat, bone, liver, organ and veg. BARF and PMR models.
Puppy Food Calculator
Growth portions by age in weeks and months, kibble or raw.
Dog Weight Loss Calculator
Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.