((((((((((((turquoisesea))))))))))))))

Animals can be a pain. My grandfather has a dog, for instance, that only likes him (and semi-tolerates my grandmother). She barks when you come in the door and doesn't STOP barking until you leave; she will try to bite your ankles if you get too close to her and she growls and bares her teeth if you get too close to my grandpa. Now, I'm a dog person -- I have two dogs myself, and they are my babies, and I could never imagine hurting them. But THAT dog ... well, that dog is just evil. Animals have personalities as much as people do, and disliking a particular animal is no worse than disliking a particular person because you just don't get along.

Up until very recently, one of my friends was living with someone who had a cat that she couldn't stand. It was very much like your boyfriend's cats -- destructive of property, needy, and on top of that it seemed to take pleasure in sinking its claws in your feet when you weren't paying attention. My friend eventually got a cheap spray bottle, filled it with water, and kept it with her at all times. Whenever the cat got in the way, started chewing on things it shouldn't, or bothered her in general, she would squirt it once with the water. It doesn't harm the cat, but the cat doesn't like it, so it'll either stop what it's doing or it'll try to get away. Eventually, if you do it enough, the cat will learn not to come near you (or your stuff!)

Also, have you spoken to your boyfriend about the cats? I know it's hard to tell someone -- especially someone you care about -- that you hate their pets. I get really defensive of my dogs, myself. But maybe there's some way of compromising, like not letting the cats into certain parts of the apartment, or finding some way of better protecting your stuff. Try to be as calm as you can when you talk to him, and make sure he knows that you understand what the cats mean to him, it's just that you're not really getting along and it might be time to come up with a plan so that the four of you can live together.