A CAT who went missing from northern Australia likely had to use a few of its nine lives before it was found some 3,500km away on the country's east coast.

Pippa, 3, disappeared from Darwin, Northern Territory, for seven weeks, and was later discovered in a shipping container in Brisbane, Queensland.

>> Cruel kids slaughter beloved dog in latest violent act

The container was being used by a neighbour of Pippa's owner, Rebecca Schilling, to transport their belongings across the country, 9News.com.au reported.

Having been trapped inside the box from 20 February to 10 April without food or water, Pippa was found suffering from dehydration and severe weightloss.

"When I first opened the door there was poo, cat hair and the smell of vomit and cat urine," Ms Schilling's neighbour Jason King told 9News.com.au.

Ms Schilling must now decide whether to fly the cat home and risk further trauma, or have her re-homed in Brisbane.