Makes me sad... my childhood leopard gecko died two winters ago at 18 years old

Not only time, but space. Charge the asshole rent for his lizards. And, you don't need to justify the amount, there is no market rate for this shit, and if he didn't give you a choice, you can charge whatever you want. $50/day seems right to me. Maybe he should have asked what your rate was before he hoisted them upon you.

Ugh. Amature! You don't release cats. Cats go where they want, when they want, at all times. Now and forever.

But if there's a chipmunk outside, they will do this weird noise together like "kakakakakakakakaaaaa"

So don't be a chipmunk. They clearly are teasing the hell out of these cats just by existing.