content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <!-- Generated by Workiva -->
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0000936179</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000887733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Central Garden &amp; Pet Company</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-33268</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600</com:street1>
          <com:city>Walnut Creek</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>94597</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>925-948-4000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>William E. Brown</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Affiliate</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>J.P. Morgan Securities LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>390 Madison Avenue</com:street1>
            <com:street2>6th Floor</com:street2>
            <com:city>New York</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>10017</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>60000</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>2373000</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>54743741</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>08/30/2024</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>04/08/2015</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>William E. Brown</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>160</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>04/08/2015</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>12/09/2009</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Option Exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>William E. Brown</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4160</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>12/09/2009</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>12/04/2007</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>William E. Brown</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>55680</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>12/04/2007</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>The shares filed today will be sold by the William E. Brown Revocable Trust ,  William E Brown as Trustee</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>08/30/2024</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for William E. Brown</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4144}]
text: 144
  0000936179
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000887733
  Central Garden & Pet Company
  001-33268
  1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600
  Walnut Creek
  CA
  94597
  925-948-4000
  William E. Brown
  Affiliate
  Class A Common Stock
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  390 Madison Avenue
  6th Floor
  New York
  NY
  10017
  60000
  2373000
  54743741
  08/30/2024
  NASDAQ
  Class A Common Stock
  04/08/2015
  Stock Option Exercise
  William E. Brown
  N
  160
  04/08/2015
  N/A
  Class A Common Stock
  12/09/2009
  Stock Option Exercise
  William E. Brown
  N
  4160
  12/09/2009
  N/A
  Class A Common Stock
  12/04/2007
  Open Market Purchase
  William E. Brown
  N
  55680
  12/04/2007
  Cash
  Y
  The shares filed today will be sold by the William E. Brown Revocable Trust ,  William E Brown as Trustee
  08/30/2024
  /s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for William E. Brown