Fibrous composition including carboxylated cellulosic fibers

A fibrous composition comprising individualized carboxylated cellulosic fibers and a cationic additive, wherein the carboxylated cellulosic fibers comprise cellulosic fibers covalently coupled to a carboxylating agent through an ester bond, wherein the carboxylating agent provides a carboxyl group to the fibers, and wherein the carboxylating agent is a polycarboxylic acid having one carboxyl group separated from a second carboxyl group by either two or three atoms, wherein the carboxylated fibers have a water retention value greater than or equal to the water retention value of the fibers from which the carboxylated fibers are formed.