Cav-A-Malt

A Cav-A-Malt is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Maltese.

These are two companion-sized breeds that like to be around their pet parents.

Cavaliers are ranked at number 19 in the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular breeds in the USA.

Although the Maltese can’t beat the Cavalier in the popularity stakes, they’re considered a hypoallergenic breed.

Cav-A-Malt can prove a popular cross breed due to the possibility of their coat being hypoallergenic.

In this article, we’re going to discuss Cav-A-Malt size, Cav-A-Malt temperament, Cav-A-Malt separation anxiety, Cav-A-Malt price, Cav-A-Malt exercise and much more.

What is a Cav-A-Malt?

A Cav-A-Malt is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Maltese.

They can also be called Cavamalt, Malt-A-Lier and Maltalier. Altneratively, you can also refer to this cross breed as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Maltese mix.

The AKC recommend the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Maltese are both breeds recognised by the American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club. However, they’re recognised by American Canine Hybrid Club, Designer Dogs Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America and International Designer Canine Registry.

Cav-A-Malt size

Cav-A-Malt are usually quite a small dog breed given the size of the parents. The Maltalier mix will usually grow to between 10 and 13 inches tall, while they can be around 10 to 13 pounds in weight.

Flynn the Cav-A-Malt falls within this size range.

Cav-A-Malt appearance

The Cav-A-Malt can vary in appearance so it’s difficult to predict what your Maltalier puppy will look like. They can embody traits from either of the parent breeds. They can come in a variety of different colors, ranging from red, tan, apricot, brown, black and tricolor. They can have a short muzzle, like their Cavalier parent. Cav-A-Malt will usually have relatively fluffy ears that flop over onto their face. Their eyes are usually brown but can bulge. Maltaliers will either have a tail that flops over onto their back or is slightly curved.

Cav-A-Malt temperament

Just like their appearance, every Cav-A-Malt could have a slightly different temperament. Given the Cavalier and Maltese breeds make excellent companion dogs, it’s no surprise that a Cav-A-Malt can make affectionate and loyal pets. They’ve got relatively low energy so Maltaliers are an excellent choice for dog lovers who perhaps don’t have the ability or time to go for a long walk every day. Cav-A-Malt tend to be sociable dogs that like to meet new people and new dogs. Having said that, these mixed dogs will benefit from socialization training from a young age.

Let’s hear how Megan describes the Cav-A-Malt temperament based upon her experience with the Maltalier mix breed.

Do Cav-A-Malts suffer from separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a chronic canine condition that can affect any dogs, irrespective of breed or mix breed. It usually manifests itself in a number of ways once the dog owners leave or even before their departure in some cases. Symptoms to look out for include incessant barking, howling or whining, destructive chewing or digging, as well as defecating and urinating. As companion breeds, both Cavaliers and Maltese like to be in the company of their pet parents. So some Cav-A-Malt could be prone to suffering from separation anxiety.

We asked Megan whether Mr Yoshi suffers from this chronic canine disorder.

Do Cav-A-Malts make good guard dogs?

Cav-A-Malts are relatively small dogs so it’s unlikely they’ll make excellent guard dogs. However, they could function well as watch dogs, alerting their owners to a friend or stranger approaching the front door.

Do Cav-A-Malts make great family pets?

If you’re looking for a family pet, Cav-A-Malts are a cross breed that you could consider. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Maltese dogs are friendly, laidback and upbeat canine companions. However, if you’re planning to introduce a Maltalier into a family setting with young children, you’ll need to educate your kids on how to handle these small dogs. We don’t recommend leaving a dog unsupervised with a child.

Do Cav-A-Malts get along with other dogs?

As a friendly mixed breed, Cav-A-Malts will usually get along with other dogs. Cavaliers and Maltese tend to be sociable breeds so we can say that Maltaliers will tend to enjoy the company of other canines. However, as a responsible dog owner, you should ask your fellow pet parents if their canines are up to date on their shots.

Megan explained that Mr Yoshi loves being around other dogs.

Matt’s Cav-A-Malt Flynn is slightly different around other dogs.

Are Cav-A-Malts easy to train?

Cav-A-Malts can be quite difficult to train so it’s a good idea to start with basic puppy training from a young age. Training the cross breed requires consistency and persistency. Neither the Cavalier nor the Maltese ranks high on Stanley Coren’s Intelligence of Dogs list. The Cavalier comes in at number 73 while the Maltese breed ranks further down the list at number 111.

Matt explained how he found training his Cav-A-Malt, Flynn.

Do Cav-A-Malt bark a lot?

Cav-A-Malt could bark when there is someone approaching the door. We asked Matt whether Flynn is a big barker. Here was his response:

How much exercise do Cav-A-Malts need?

Cav-A-Malts are relatively low energy dogs that could make a good fit for seniors or people with limited ability to take their canines for long walks. Wag Walking recommend around 30 minutes a day for your Cav-A-Malt, citing that a couple of short walks per day will suffice for members of the cross breed.

Matt told us that his Maltalier Flynn enjoys a trip to the dog park for a sniff.

Are Cav-A-Malts hypoallergenic?

Cav-A-Malts can be hypoallergenic thanks to the influence of Maltese’s genes. The American Kennel Club states that there’s no such thing as a 100 per cent hypoallergenic dog breed. However, the organization do list a number of breeds with hypoallergenic qualities, such as the Maltese. Remember, there’s no guarantee a Cav-A-Malt will inherit the hypoallergenic coat instead of the Cavalier’s moderate-to-high shedding fur.

Do Cav-A-Malts shed?

As we touched upon above, Cav-A-Malts are usually low-shedding dogs. If a Maltalier inherits the coat of the Maltese dog, they won’t shed a lot. Cavaliers, on the other hand, are a dog breed that do shed quite a bit.

Matt sheds light on the hybrid dog’s shedding based upon Flynn.

Do Cav-A-Malts need regular grooming?

Cav-A-Malt dogs are a small breed that will require regular grooming to maintain the quality of their coat. They’ve got a medium-to-long coat, with dense fur which is wavy in appearance. By brushing your Cav-A-Malt’s coat, you can prevent matting or tangling. You can also remove debris and dirt from their fur.

Do Cav-A-Malts have any health problems?

Although Cav-A-Malts are a cross breed, they can be prone to some potential health issues. It’s a good idea to educate yourself about the health conditions that you could encounter. Here are some health problems to be aware of:

• Glaucoma
• Hip Dysplasia
• Deafness
• Cherry Eye
• Ear Infections
• Skin Infections

We asked Megan if she’s experienced any health scares with her Cav-A-Malt, Mr Yoshi.

Are Cav-A-Malts fussy eaters?

Maltaliers can possibly be picky eaters. I’ve experienced the stress of owning fussy dogs that won’t eat their food. My Alaskan Klee Kai can be extremely picky. I’ve found that dog food delivery companies can provide a solution for dog owners with their home-cooked meals. I’ve reviewed the best dog food delivery companies in the USA and the best dog food delivery companies in the UK.

Alternatively, if you prefer feeding your Cav-A-Malt dry food such as kibble, you can still find some great options here.

Cav-A-Malt price

If you’re looking to adopt a Cav-A-Malt, your first stop should be your local rescue shelter. Sometimes Maltaliers can be put up for adoption. However, there are some breeders of Cav-A-Malts as there’s a demand for this hybrid dog from Cavalier lovers who want a hypoallergenic dog. If you do contact a breeder about getting a Cav-A-Malt puppy, you should ask to see your pup interact with the parents, request to see proof of health checks and vaccinations, as well as relevant documentation.

Megan rescued Mr Yosi and explained the costs involved in doing so.

Are Cav-A-Malts expensive?

Aside from the initial cost of adopting your Cav-A-Malt, you’ll need to prepare for monthly costs associated with owning a dog. These include vaccinations, neutering or spaying, dog food, pet insurance and much more. You can check out the best pet insurance options in the USA and the UK

Do you recommend Cav-A-Malts to first-time dog owners?

If you’re a first-time dog owner and you’re considering a Cav-A-Malt, you’ll probably wondering if the designer breed is a good fit for you.

Matt offered an insight into some of the additional costs involved.

Megan gave us an insight into what attracted her to the mix breed.

Matt listed his favourite traits regarding the Cav-A-Malt cross breed.

Cav-A-Malts to follow on Instagram

If you’d like to learn more about Cav-A-Malt dogs, you can also check out some examples of the cross breed on Instagram. Here are some Maltaliers to check out on social media.

• Mr Yoshi (@mr_yoshi_maltalier)

• Flynn (@flynn_themaltesecavalier)

In conclusion

Cav-A-Malt are a cross between a Cavalier and a Maltese.

They can make excellent family pets thanks to their easy-going nature. Maltaliers enjoy being around people and dogs as they’re usually quite a sociable mix breed.

One of the most attractive features of the Cav-A-Malt is their ability to have a hypoallergenic coat. Although you must remember there’s no guarantee that these dogs won’t shed a little.

In Megan’s experience, Cav-A-Malts aren’t fussy dogs.