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>0001489054</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>John R. Ranelli</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>J.P. Morgan Securities LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>390 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor</com:street1>
            <com:city>New York</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>10017</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>2500</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>83075</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>53186394</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>02/13/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Class A Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>01/28/2025</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Transfer</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>From John R. Ranelli, who acquired the shares from compensation on 02/12/19</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2500</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>01/28/2025</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>The shares filed today will be sold by the John R. Ranelli Trust Dated 12/24/97, John R. Ranelli as Trustee</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>02/13/2025</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for John R. Ranelli</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
metadata_documents: [{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3050}]
text: 144
  0001489054
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000887733
  Central Garden & Pet Company
  001-33268
  1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600
  Walnut Creek
  CA
  94597
  925-948-4000
  John R. Ranelli
  Director
  Class A Common Stock
  J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  390 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor
  New York
  NY
  10017
  2500
  83075
  53186394
  02/13/2025
  NASDAQ
  Class A Common Stock
  01/28/2025
  Transfer
  From John R. Ranelli, who acquired the shares from compensation on 02/12/19
  N
  2500
  01/28/2025
  N/A
  Y
  The shares filed today will be sold by the John R. Ranelli Trust Dated 12/24/97, John R. Ranelli as Trustee
  02/13/2025
  /s/ J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as agent and attorney-in-fact for John R. Ranelli