<?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>0001892353</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>
                <ns2:street1>One Technology Park Drive</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>Westford</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>MA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>01886</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>(978) 776-2000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>FREDRIK HAN WESTERHOUT</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>38th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>480</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>103200.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>11703481</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>06/12/2023</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>03/10/2019</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>480</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>03/10/2019</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Services Rendered</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>06/12/2023</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ Fredrik H. Westerhout</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3253}]
144
0001892353
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000886346
KADANT INC
001-11406
One Technology Park Drive
Westford
MA
01886
(978) 776-2000
FREDRIK HAN WESTERHOUT
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
38th Floor
New York
NY
10004
480
103200.00
11703481
06/12/2023
NYSE
Common
03/10/2019
Restricted stock vesting under a registered plan
Issuer
N
480
03/10/2019
Services Rendered
Y
06/12/2023
/s/ Fredrik H. Westerhout