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      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001243393</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <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>LEONARD THOMAS C</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Wells Fargo Clearing Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 N. Jefferson Ave.</com:street1>
          <com:city>St. Louis</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>MO</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>63103</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>941</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>307878.37</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>11718808</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/01/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>06/01/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>471</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>06/01/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>10/01/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>235</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>10/01/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>12/31/2022</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>235</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>12/31/2022</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>N/A</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/01/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>Thomas C. Leonard</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
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144
0001243393
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000886346
KADANT INC
001-11406
ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
WESTFORD
MA
01886
(978) 776-2000
LEONARD THOMAS C
Director
Common
Wells Fargo Clearing Services
1 N. Jefferson Ave.
St. Louis
MO
63103
941
307878.37
11718808
03/01/2024
NYSE
Common
06/01/2022
Restricted Stock Vesting
Issuer
N
471
06/01/2022
N/A
Common
10/01/2022
Restricted Stock Vesting
Issuer
N
235
10/01/2022
N/A
Common
12/31/2022
Restricted Stock Vesting
Issuer
N
235
12/31/2022
N/A
Y
03/01/2024
Thomas C. Leonard