I can't get my cat to stop whining. Any suggestions?

We're putting my 2 1/2 year old egyptian mau on a diet because she's getting fat. She's a very spoiled cat to begin with, alway whining about something. I feed her at 8am and 7pm usually, but now she whines not only after finishing her food in the morning but over the past 2 weeks, starting at 4pm. If I were to feed her at 4, then shed be hungry and whine more when I go to sleep, and the only way to shut her up would be to feed her, which would defeat the purpose of a diet (she's eating a low fat dry food). If I ignore her, she will go to her water bowl, and splash it on the floor. Please help!