A Maine coon cat named Mittens became an accidental jetsetter this month when her cage was overlooked in a plane cargo hold and she made three trips in 24 hours between New Zealand and Australia.

A baggage handler didn't spot Mittens' cage when it was blocked by a wheelchair on arrival in Melbourne Mittens the cat has clocked up lots of extra air miles after mistakenly flying between New Zealand and Australia three times in 24 hours.

Mittens, 8, was booked for one-way travel with her family from Christchurch, New Zealand to their new home in Melbourne, on January 13. But owner Margo Neas said that as she waited for Mittens to be unloaded from the plane's freight area, three hours passed with no sign of the cat.