By Ali Hibbs Albany, N.Y. — New York has become the first state in the nation to ban the surgical declawing of cats, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law on Monday. The new law would allow declawing of cats for medical reasons, such as infection or injury, but would prohibit veterinarians from performing the procedure in any other circumstance, punishable by a $1,000 fine. Declawing, also