Last year, this cat used to visit me regularly in late afternoon, eat
her favorite canned foods, watch tv, then leave.

During the winter a family emergency forced us to go overseas. We had
an apt-sitter, who I couldn't expect to be like me and who mostly left
dry food out. At least the cat could eat.

Coming back, I find the cat is slowly warming back to me but her habits
have changed.

(1) She has become used to dry food. I have been putting out a little
bit of canned each time but she barely notices it. I want her to eat
canned but my first priority has got to be that she ha enough to eat,
right?

(2) She has become used to eating around 1PM. At 5, I had about 2 hours
to watch news and play with her. At 1 I am busy at the computer with
real work and she feels ignored and looks grumpy. My fear is if I don't
feed her when she comes, instead of returning later she may simply give
up on me.

Questions so far: How can I make her come around 5pm, eat canned food,
and feel it is all her idea? :-)

(3) Yet another potential problem is that two new families are about to
move into the ground floor apartments that have been empty so far. She
passes through those porches to climb to our 3rd floor. Now there could
be a few strangers in her path.

For a few days last Fall, there were wormen in the yard, not even in
her direct path, but she hid untill everyone had left and came several
hours later, still looking anxious. I am worried by that memory,

Question: What can I do to let her know these new people are ok and she
should just climb up?

Should I not bother trying to force too many changes, and just keep
feeding dry whenever she shows up at least until she gets used to the
presence of new people?

All opinions greatly appreciated.