<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <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>
                <ns2:street1>1340 Treat Blvd</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Walnut Creek</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>94597</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>925-948-4000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>WILLIAM E BROWN</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>700000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>25375000.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>54723064</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>05/30/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>04/08/2015</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>160</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>04/08/2015</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>12/09/2009</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Compensation</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>25000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>12/09/2009</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>02/07/2007</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Stock Dividend</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>580709</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>02/07/2007</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Company Dividend</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>11/29/2007</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Open Market Purchase</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>94131</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>11/29/2007</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>05/30/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ William E. Brown</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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144
0000936179
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000887733
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
001-33268
1340 Treat Blvd
Walnut Creek
CA
94597
925-948-4000
WILLIAM E BROWN
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
700000
25375000.00
54723064
05/30/2024
NASDAQ
Common
04/08/2015
Compensation
Issuer
N
160
04/08/2015
Compensation
Common
12/09/2009
Compensation
Issuer
N
25000
12/09/2009
Compensation
Common
02/07/2007
Stock Dividend
Issuer
N
580709
02/07/2007
Company Dividend
Common
11/29/2007
Open Market Purchase
Issuer
N
94131
11/29/2007
Cash
Y
05/30/2024
/s/ William E. Brown