Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries - Condensed Balance Sheet Based on Company's Understanding of SEC Interpretation (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 15,156	$ 48,475	$ 12,031	$ 91,460
Short term investments	17,820	22,705
Accounts receivable, net	194,260	202,422
Inventories	391,934	330,032
Prepaid expenses and other assets	53,484	48,149
Total current assets	672,654	651,783
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	188,913	191,163
Goodwill	205,756	210,223	210,223	207,319
Investment in guarantors	0	0
Other assets	93,837	96,378
Total	1,161,160	1,149,547	1,093,003
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	103,569	126,662
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	78,760	79,822
Total current liabilities	182,329	206,484
Long-term debt	472,445	449,483
Other long-term obligations	36,362	28,697
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet	468,678	463,937
Noncontrolling interest	1,346	946
Total equity	470,024	464,883	456,782	532,143
Total	1,161,160	1,149,547
Parent [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	12,441	44,662	10,633	90,265
Short term investments	17,820	22,705
Accounts receivable, net	43,660	48,339
Inventories	114,662	97,017
Prepaid expenses and other assets	24,747	25,242
Total current assets	213,330	237,965
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	78,662	81,727
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in guarantors	693,615	654,362
Other assets	57,255	54,910
Total	1,042,862	1,028,964
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	36,869	49,894
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	33,664	38,673
Total current liabilities	70,533	88,567
Long-term debt	472,418	449,387
Other long-term obligations	29,887	26,127
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet	468,678	463,937
Noncontrolling interest	1,346	946
Total equity	470,024	464,883
Total	1,042,862	1,028,964
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	2,715	3,813	1,398	1,195
Short term investments	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	153,734	159,328
Inventories	277,272	233,015
Prepaid expenses and other assets	28,737	22,907
Total current assets	462,458	419,063
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	110,251	109,436
Goodwill	205,756	210,223
Investment in guarantors	0	0
Other assets	36,582	41,468
Total	815,047	780,190
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	69,834	82,013
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	45,096	41,149
Total current liabilities	114,930	123,162
Long-term debt	27	96
Other long-term obligations	6,475	2,570
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet	693,615	654,362
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	693,615	654,362
Total	815,047	780,190
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Short term investments	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(3,134)	(5,245)
Inventories	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0	0
Total current assets	(3,134)	(5,245)
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in guarantors	(693,615)	(654,362)
Other assets	0	0
Total	(696,749)	(659,607)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	(3,134)	(5,245)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0	0
Total current liabilities	(3,134)	(5,245)
Long-term debt	0	0
Other long-term obligations	0	0
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet	(693,615)	(654,362)
Noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total equity	(693,615)	(654,362)
Total	$ (696,749)	$ (659,607)