YOU SAID:
The cat was in the tree but then the dog came and barked at the cat
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいましたが、それから犬は猫のところに来て吠えました
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat was in the tree, then the dog came to the cat and barked
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいた、そして犬は猫のところに来て吠えた
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat was in the tree and the dog came to the cat and barked
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいて犬は猫のところに来て吠えました
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat was in the tree and the dog came to the cat
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいて犬は猫のところに来た
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat is in the tree and the dog came to the cat
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいて犬は猫のところにきました
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat was in the tree and the dog came to the cat
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいて犬は猫のところに来た
BACK INTO ENGLISH
The cat is in the tree and the dog came to the cat
INTO JAPANESE
猫は木の中にいて犬は猫のところにきました
it is unlikely that this phrase will ever reach equilibrium