Objects that were found wrapped around the body of a cat with tape include a saw, a mobile phone, drills, an earphone, a memory card, batteries and a phone charger. (Reuters)

Guards thought there was something suspicious about a little white cat slipping through a prison gate in northeastern Brazil.

A prison official says that when they caught the animal, they found a cellphone, drills, small saws and other contraband taped to its body.

Alagoas state prisons spokeswoman Cinthya Moreno says that the cat was caught New Year's Eve at the medium-security prison in the city of Arapiraca.

The incident took place at a jail in Arapiraca city, 250 kilometres southwest of Recife.

The O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper reported Saturday that all of the prison's 263 inmates are suspects in the smuggling attempt, though it says a prison spokesman said "It will be hard to discover who is responsible since the cat does not speak."

The items could be used to help someone escape or for communicating with criminals on the outside, said officials.