YOU SAID:
the cat liked to lick the other cat
INTO JAPANESE
猫は他の猫をなめるのが好きだった
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat liked to lick other cats
INTO JAPANESE
猫は他の猫をなめるのが好き
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Cat likes to lick other cats
INTO JAPANESE
猫は他の猫をなめるのが好き
BACK INTO ENGLISH
Cat likes to lick other cats
That didn't even make that much sense in English.