Hopefully the set him free is a joke... I don't know where you're from but I'm pretty certain setting pet turtles "free" is illegal as they can cause problems with the natural environment. Especially considering so many people think its okay to release them.
As for the actual post. My...
This!
Not only that but a cats saliva is FULL of bacteria. I know that any contact, via a lick or what have you, on a bird from a cat can kill it. Any scratch or bite from the cat will be the end of the cham as well.
Even a kitty with itty bitty legs is still a cat.