What are the symptoms of respiratory infections?

[-Wolfie-]

I need to no coz i think my rat has one

[Sun of Samsa]

I'm using towels and fleece now. I'm not a big fan of them because they don't do much for reducing smell, and it's a pain to change them because the little raisins stick to the cloth and get everywhere when I take them out. It's convenient because it's cheap, environmentally friendly (as in, reusable!), but requires a lot more changing than disposable bedding material. I'm switching over to flannel soon, because it'll be easier to clean. I'm new to fabric bedding, so maybe I'm just not a seasoned cage-cleaner yet!

edit: I guess I commented while you were changing the topic... sorry!

[Scubbs]

Towels *can* be bad, if your rats chew on them and they become stringy - then they can get their feet/toes stuck in them.  But, I've used towels for 7-8 years now, and have never had that problem.  I just make sure to trim off any parts that are loose or stringy.  

If you're really worried about what might happen with towels and your rat(s), fleece is a great alternative.

[JuliaDC]

Symptoms of a respiratory infection can include:

• Frequent, excessive sneezing (beyond what is normal for the rat)
• Porphyrin around the nose and eyes
• Rapid or labored breathing
• Audible sniffing or breathing, including "monkey noises" (clucking), whistling, or clicking
• General lethargy, puffed fur, disinterest in eating, etc., combined with any of the above symptoms
  

What makes it tough is that you really have to know your rat. Rats can have allergies just like people, with symptoms that never go beyond sneezing and nasal congestion. For older or less active rats, you may not notice a big change in behavior at first. The best way to know for sure it to take your rat to the vet. Once you know what's normal for your rat, you can judge better later on.