I would like to feed my new seven-week-old kitten a regimen of dry cat food supplemented...

Because kittens have a unique growth pattern, the first year is critical in their development. A kitten grows from infancy to young adulthood in approximately one year. During its first 20 weeks a kitten can have a 2,000 percent increase over its birth weight. At 26 weeks of age, the growth rate starts to level off. However, kittens continue to develop inside, with normal growth ending at about one year of age. Kittens also require about twice the energy per pound of body weight as a mature cat.

Their rapid growth and high-energy requirements present a special nutritional need. That is why Purina® Kitten Chow® brand Kitten Food is recommended for the kitten's first year of growth and development. It provides the extra protein, calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients to help ensure the healthy, normal growth of kittens.

Kittens have very small stomachs. Therefore, they tend to be "occasional eaters" and consume a large number of small meals. For these reasons, it is probably a good idea to make sure that your kitten has food available at all times. Usually, kittens will eat a small amount of food, then leave and return at intervals throughout the day to eat. As many people aren't around to monitor their kitten's eating, you may wish to measure the dry food into your kitten's bowl and leave it for the day. Dry food will remain fresh in the bowl for the whole day. The package of dry cat food will contain some information about approximate feeding amounts. One can use this as a starting point and adjust based on your kitten’s needs and growth rate.

With respect to offering both canned and dry food, most cat owners will regulate a cat’s intake by feeding canned food in two small meals - in the morning and afternoon. You might try a small can of Purina® Fancy Feast® canned cat food (3 ounce can). The rest of the time the cat usually has access to some sort of dry food. Most cats are very good at regulating their intake with this feeding regimen and not becoming obese. However, if you see you cat putting on to much weight you can always decrease either the amount of wet food or dry food offered.

Source: http://www.catchow.com