Purified plant fiber, usually from wood pulp, added as an insoluble fiber. It bulks stool, dilutes calories in weight-control foods and helps move hair through a cat's gut, which is why it is common in hairball formulas. It passes through undigested and supplies fiber only. The wood origin sounds alarming, but the product is the same purified cellulose used in human foods.
How it appears on labels
You may see it listed as powdered cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose fiber.
Find foods with or without it
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Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, nutritional requirements of dogs and cats
- AAFCO ingredient definitions
