Painting in a rented apartment

[vass]

There's a project I want to do, but first I want to know if it's possible at all. I have a medium to large collection of bookcases, most either thrifted, cheap flat-pack, or both. I'd like to paint or stain them all one colour, probably black, so they match. I think it'd be a big step towards a more coordinated look.

I live in a small rented apartment with cats. I don't know where I'd paint the bookcases and let them dry. It's important that I don't stain the apartment, and it's also important the cats don't get in the paint. The bathroom's too small to paint anything, but maybe large enough that I could put a bookcase in there while it dried. The kitchen's too small and also open plan. My bedroom is a possibility, but then I couldn't sleep in it because of paint fumes. The living room is the right size, but there are cats there.

Any ideas? Is it just a bad idea?