Thanks all.
Well ... I have a new vet. The first vet can forget seeing me darken her doorsteps anymore.
I had taken my dog for his puppy visit to this vet before. He had a free office visit if shots were given, and was cheaper on shots and meds than most anyone else anyway.
And he seems to be willing to take plenty of time as needed with the animals, is kind to them. And my cat LIKES him, which means something.

He seems very knowledgeable, and I like that he used to work in emergency medicine too. He pretty much outlined every possibility, what could happen, how likely it was or wasn't, what to look for, and the various levels of treatment for asthma (since that's most likely what it is) and triggers and such.
They still don't do payments, but ... he did offer a prescription for the acute attacks if I wanted. So if she gets THAT bad again, I'll have something to give her instead of just watching her struggle for air.
Of course, there is still a possibility it could be something else, which would then be UNtreated since it's not yet identified. How urgent that is ... depends on what it might be. There are about a half-dozen possibilities, which I'd already researched on gone over in my mind. At least I know a little more what to look for.
She really needs a -- what's it called? Cat-face-tube-thingy to give her meds. I have a paper on it -- I'm just too tired to walk back in there and get it right now.

They cost about $80 but he said check eBay. And he said in a pinch, it's worth trying to make a temporary cup out of a styrofoam cup, so I think I'll do that in the meantime, just in case.
Oh, Aerocat. That's what it's called.
And I still have to afford the meds. Not sure of the cost yet.
But having to watch her struggle for every breath, hour after hour, and how desperate and afraid she became ... well .... it's just too horrible for me to watch.
I'm so tired now. I guess just having that resolved even so far as to find a vet that would give me a prescription for emergency meds ... that means SO much to me. Funny how you get so tensed up for what's going on, and when that immediate crisis is relieved, you feel so ......
I guess it's lack of sleep and now lack of adrenaline.
But that's the update. Being able to treat the most likely cause is worth it.
And, when we got home ... she slapped the dog for sniffing the strange smells on her. I know she feels better now. She's purring beside me.
Now I hope I can get on with something ELSE in life. I need to go check the chickens and see if any more eggs hatched today.
Oh, and I dropped off a dozen goose eggs for a guy to try to incubate for me. I don't have high hopes, cuz he's never done goose eggs before, but ... I'm still trying to borrow an incubator and those eggs aren't getting any younger. And my geese are sitting on around 2 dozen.
I stopped on the way home to get llama food. And the feed store ... DIDN'T have any peeps. I was fortunate ... I don't NEED babies ... I don't NEED babies .... at least not any that aren't already hatched here.
Well ... maybe some ducks ... I really DO want ducks ...

j/k!!!