<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="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 CO</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-33268</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>1340 TREAT BOULEVARD</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SUITE 600</com:street2>
        <com:city>WALNUT CREEK</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>94597</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>9259484000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>BROWN WILLIAM E</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Member of immediate family of any of the foregoing</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Wells Fargo Clearing Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 North Jefferson Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>650</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>24360.80</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>41099472</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>02/29/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/05/2007</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Gift</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>William and Sharon Bonner Brown</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>Y</isGiftTransaction>
      <donarAcquiredDate>01/01/1996</donarAcquiredDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>650</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/01/1996</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Sharon Bonner Brown</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600</com:street1>
          <com:city>Walnut Creek</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>94597</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/23/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1055</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>39444.68</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Sharon Bonner Brown</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600</com:street1>
          <com:city>Walnut Creek</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>94597</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Class A</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/20/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2485</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>91101.04</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <remarks>shares were sold for account: The Sasha Penn Brown 2008 Irrevocable Trust, Sharon Bonner Brown as trustee and spouse of an officer and director of the issuer.</remarks>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>02/29/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Sharon Bonner Brown</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4261}]
144
0000936179
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000887733
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
001-33268
1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
SUITE 600
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94597
9259484000
BROWN WILLIAM E
Member of immediate family of any of the foregoing
Class A
Wells Fargo Clearing Services
1 North Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis
MO
63103
650
24360.80
41099472
02/29/2024
Nasdaq
Class A
02/05/2007
Gift
William and Sharon Bonner Brown
Y
01/01/1996
650
01/01/1996
N/A
N
Sharon Bonner Brown
1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600
Walnut Creek
CA
94597
Class A
02/23/2024
1055
39444.68
Sharon Bonner Brown
1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600
Walnut Creek
CA
94597
Class A
02/20/2024
2485
91101.04
shares were sold for account: The Sasha Penn Brown 2008 Irrevocable Trust, Sharon Bonner Brown as trustee and spouse of an officer and director of the issuer.
02/29/2024
Sharon Bonner Brown