A kick is an impact as a bat on a ball, a car fender on a noggin. There is no reasonable way to infer pre-landing impact from what we saw. And we agree that the landing is not the issue.
The only way you COULD credibly make that argument is if the squirrel hopped in the air and the catapult smacked him. That clearly did not happen.
For all of the above I infer no lethal objective
Run over? Certainly not by a tire, I view that as fatal. Bumper? Now THAT'S an impact.
You are conflating physics, impact, not in evidence with a speculative objective that's neither clearly discernible nor attained.
And why go to the trouble for such an uncertain result?
Not my choice for either yard entertainment or for YouTube clicks.
But several notches below actual cruelty much less lethal intent.