How to best feed a cat?

Pardon the potentially stupid question, but I am a very new cat owner.  My Josephine have been meowing a bit by her food dish in the evening, and I'm concerned she might be hungry.  but the dish is full!  Following  the advice from a couple people I know who own cats, I feed from a can of food in he morning.  I keep the other dish full at all times with dry food, and she nibbles on it during the day whenever she wants.  The cat is certainly eating it.  But she's hanging around the dish a bit and meowing, and I'd feel awful if I was doing her food wrong.  Maybe I should give canned food again at night?  I'm sorry, but I'm really concerned I;ve been doing something wrong here with the wet/dry food schedule.  On the other hand I'm just as worried about over feeding and the cat getting sick or something.  

Do you have a regular vet?  Ask them to calculate your cat's daily caloric needs, then begin reading cat food labels so you know the caloric value of what you are feeding.  I have had cats all my life, but my newest one is the biggest munch mouth I have ever had...constantly meowing and looking for food.  If I didn't have the good, solid information I needed (how much does he need a day, as confirmed by my vet) I would have doubts as well - and this is definitely not my first cat!  He seems intent on convincing me he's starving...and he's NOT!

If you like to crunch numbers yourself,  Google "calculate feline caloric needs" or something like that...there are formulas out there.

You will get lots of good suggestions, but mine would be to figure out your "numbers".  Don't need to get neurotic about it once you do...you don't have to worry about feeding exactly 200 calories a day is that is what your cat needs...but you'll have a better idea if you are at least close to the daily target most days.

Good luck and welcome to the fun of having a cat around!

ETA: reread your post...she might like canned food better and if that's the case, you are lucky!  Cats are healthier when they get their water with their food as they do with canned.  But my point is still valid: cats can still meow and whine to try and get extra food from you, so that behavior is not necessarily an indication they need more food!

I agree, it seems like she might prefer canned food.  Which is fantastic, because it is much healthier for her than the dry kibble!

How old is she? Is she active, lazy, or somewhere in between? Do you know her weight?

The average adult cat eats about 5 to 6 ounces of canned food per day, which should be split over at least two (or even three) meals per day.  There are some variances to this amount of course, depending on activity level, the size of the cat, the quality and content of the food you give, etc.

Growing kittens eat considerably more canned food than adults because they have all that fast growing to do.

My advice would be to take away the kibble completely, and try a few days with just canned food. Split the amount she needs per day over two or three meals. Such as morning, late afternoon or early evening, and a little bit before you go to bed each night, etc.

And if you are wondering about the right food, here are some articles about it:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272884/how-to-care-for-a-wound-that-wont-heal#post_3499232

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/grain-free-cat-food-what-does-it-mean

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/what-makes-the-best-canned-cat-food

There are many more articles on nutrition.  Just click on "Articles" at the top of any page, then select "Cat Health", then "Cat Nutrition". 

Burkey said:

 
I agree, it seems like she might prefer canned food.  Which is fantastic, because it is much healthier for her than the dry kibble!

How old is she? Is she active, lazy, or somewhere in between? Do you know her weight?

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She's about 3.  Actually I'm finding she's a bit on the lazy side, though she can  be a bit high energy when she really gets going.  Weighs maybe 6-8 pounds, but I'm guessing here on that one.  

Welcome to the forum, Blazewind !

 How to best feed a cat?

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The very best advice is to be found right here: http://catinfo.org/

I have a feeling that you're a reader (a rarity these days !).......take your time with the articles on there - but, if you can digest the concepts there, you will have the answers to your question. Dr. Pierson's site is generally recognized as one of the oracles of feline nutrition.