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      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
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        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001488754</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
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      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000886346</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KADANT INC</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-11406</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE</com:street1>
          <com:city>WESTFORD</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>01886</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>(978) 776-2000</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Russell Erin L</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>245 Summer Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Boston</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>MA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02110</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>1250</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>275043.75</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>1</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>09/08/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>06/01/2020</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>1043</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>06/01/2020</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>06/01/2019</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>29</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>06/01/2019</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>09/28/2019</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Award</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>178</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>09/28/2019</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>09/08/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Cristina Garcia, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Russell Erin L</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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text: 144
  0001488754
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000886346
  KADANT INC
  001-11406
  ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
  WESTFORD
  MA
  01886
  (978) 776-2000
  Russell Erin L
  Director
  Common
  Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  245 Summer Street
  Boston
  MA
  02110
  1250
  275043.75
  1
  09/08/2023
  NYSE
  Common
  06/01/2020
  Stock Award
  Issuer
  N
  1043
  06/01/2020
  Compensation
  Common
  06/01/2019
  Stock Award
  Issuer
  N
  29
  06/01/2019
  Compensation
  Common
  09/28/2019
  Stock Award
  Issuer
  N
  178
  09/28/2019
  Compensation
  Y
  09/08/2023
  /s/ Cristina Garcia, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Russell Erin L