How Much to Feed a Maltese
Adult Malteses typically weigh 4–7 lb. A spayed/neutered adult needs about 175–266 kcal a day, roughly ½–¾ cups of a typical 375 kcal/cup dry food. The full chart covers puppy through senior, and below it, what's specific to feeding this breed.
Maltese feeding chart
| Weight | Puppy 4–12 mo | Adult (neutered) | Active / working | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 lb | 219 kcal (½ cups) | 175 kcal (½ cups) | 274 kcal (¾ cups) | 153 kcal (½ cups) |
| 6 lb | 297 kcal (¾ cups) | 237 kcal (¾ cups) | 371 kcal (1 cups) | 208 kcal (½ cups) |
| 7 lb | 333 kcal (1 cups) | 266 kcal (¾ cups) | 416 kcal (1 cups) | 233 kcal (½ cups) |
Calories from RER = 70 × kg0.75 × life-stage factor; cups assume 375 kcal/cup; check your bag, foods range 325–450. Run the exact numbers for your dog →
Feeding notes for Malteses
Maltese are legendarily picky, and the usual owner response (endless toppers, rotisserie chicken, new foods weekly) trains the pickiness deeper while wrecking the calorie math. Pick a quality small-breed food, offer meals for 15 minutes, and let a healthy dog's hunger do the rest. Tiny portions mean a gram scale beats a measuring cup.
Portion numbers use the same RER/MER formulas as the main calculator. Full formula sources and limits: About & methodology.
Related tools and guides
- Dog food calculator: exact cups from your dog's weight and your bag's kcal/cup
- Puppy feeding calculator: age-adjusted portions for a growing Maltese
- Raw feeding calculator: grams per day at 2–3% of body weight
- Wet + dry mix calculator: leftover kibble after cans, without double-counting calories
- How dog calorie needs actually work
- Monthly dog food cost: kibble vs fresh vs raw by size
Frequently asked questions
How many cups of food should a Maltese eat per day?
A typical spayed/neutered adult Maltese (4–7 lb) needs roughly 175–266 kcal per day, which is about ½ to ¾ cups of an average 375 kcal/cup dry food, split into two meals. Use the calculator with your dog's actual weight and your food's real kcal/cup for a precise number.
How much should a Maltese puppy eat?
Puppies need far more per pound than adults: 3× resting energy before 4 months and 2× from 4–12 months, spread over 3–4 meals. Because the amount changes as they grow, weigh your puppy every week or two and re-run the puppy calculator with the current weight.