Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * SPRINGER MARY BETH 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [CENT] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY, 1340 TREAT BLVD, SUITE 600 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/11/2026 (Street) WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Class A Common Stock 02/11/2026 M 8,803 A $22.72(1) 28,995 D Class A Common Stock 02/11/2026 F(2) 5,948 D $33.63 23,047 D Class A Common Stock 02/11/2026 A 3,584(3) A $ 0 26,631 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$22.72(4)

02/11/2026

M

8,803(4)

(5)

02/11/2026

Class A Common Stock(4)

8,803(4)

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
SPRINGER MARY BETH C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY 1340 TREAT BLVD, SUITE 600 WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597	X

Signatures

/s/Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-Fact for Mary Beth Springer		02/12/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	On December 7, 2023, Company declared a stock dividend, payable to all holders on record of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock as of January 8, 2024, of one share of Class A Common Stock for every four shares of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock outstanding. At the same time, pursuant to anti-dilution provisions, an option for 7,043 shares Class A Common Stock on January 8, 2024 became exercisable for 8,803 shares of Class A Common Stock.
(2)	Shares withheld by the Issuer in payment of the aggregate option exercise price incurred upon the above-reported exercise of options. The amount of shares withheld is based on the respective average of the high and low sales prices on the date of exercise.
(3)	Restricted stock award granted under the Company's Nonemployee Director Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
(4)	This option was previously reported as an option for 7,043 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $28.40 per share, but was adjusted to reflect the stock dividend declared by Company on December 7, 2023. As a result of the stock dividend, the option also entitled the Reporting Person to receive, upon exercise, 1,760 shares of Class A Common Stock for no additional consideration.
(5)	Options were granted on February 11, 2020, and all shares are vested and have been exercised.
Remarks: Exhibit 24.1; Power of Attorney

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