A cat who went missing in Darwin, Northern Territory for seven weeks has been discovered trapped—but still very much alive—in a shipping container in Brisbane, Queensland.

“I got call from my former neighbour, ‘Hi, this is Jason, we’ve found your cat in our container,’” the cat’s owner Rebecca Schilling said.

The shipping container had been used to transport the belongings of Ms Schilling’s former neighbour Jason King interstate.

The container was sealed on February 20, 2015, transported via the VLine transport services and reopened on April 10.

After 49 days trapped in a shipping container, Pippa the cat appeared particularly emaciated. (Jason King)

“When I first opened the door there was poo, cat hair and the smell of vomit and cat urine,” Mr King said.

“I climbed up over things and I found our expensive mattress had cat urine and vomit all over it.

“I took everything out and sure enough behind the very last thing I found the cat.

“I was surprised to find it alive… It was really light and bony. You could see its skeleton and its spine.”

Despite suffering dehydration and weight loss, Pippa was in surprisingly good shape. (Jason King)

After being transported overland in a container across Australia’s dry interior with neither food or water for 49 days, three-year-old moggy Pippa was suffering from dehydration and severe weight loss.

“It turns out that she crawled into the container while it was sitting open in the cul-de-sac where we live, found a good spot and decided to have a good snooze,” owner Ms Schilling said.

“Jason told me, ‘She’s very, very unwell. I’m not allowed to keep her here at my place as pets aren’t allowed.’

“I said, ‘I have absolutely no idea what to do, let me call you back in 15.’ Then I got off the phone and swore quite a lot.”

Despite the circumstances, Pippa’s survival came as a great relief to both Ms Schilling and her 10-year-old daughter Emily.

An image of Pippa the cat, posted by her owner on a lost and found website. (Top End Lost and Found/Rebecca Schilling)

“I was delighted that I knew where she was but I was initially concerned she was really suffering and might need to be put down,” Ms Schilling said.

“Emily was elated when we found out she was safe. ‘When can we get her home, when can we get her home?’”

After spending several weeks recovering from her ordeal in an Animal Welfare League shelter, Pippa is now in the care of a foster home.

Pippa's needs have been overseen by vet Heday Nakayima. (Animal Welfare League of QLD)

Ms Schilling is divided about whether or not to fly her home or have her cat permanently rehomed in Brisbane.

“One of my big concerns is the cost and the potential trauma on her flying again after [seven] weeks in a shipping container,” she said.

“It was Emily’s birthday the other day and she said, ‘The only thing I’d want is my cat home.’

Before and after: Pippa is currently recovering in the care of a foster home. (Jason King/Animal Welfare League QLD)

“She doesn’t know that I’m thinking about bringing her home. I’m trying to keep it a surprise for her.”

Whatever the outcome, Ms Schilling remains optimistic about Pippa’s future.