Asthma diagnosis- did I get swindled?

I took my mom's cat to the vet today. Vet listened to his lungs and said he has asthma. From what I've read, though, asthma is difficult to diagnose- typically requires X-rays etc. to rule out other possible problems- but the vet did none of that. He just took a quick listen and said "he has asthma". I'm confused and I feel like I just got swindled. Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this?

Here's a good web site about feline asthma: http://www.fritzthebrave.com/

Has your Mom's cat ever shown symptoms of asthma? Coughing, wheezing, etc?

What was the original reason for the vet visit?

If you feel the vet swindled you, seek out a second opinion from another vet. Simply listening to the lungs can't 100% diagnose asthma, IMO.

I can't remember if he'd been coughing, but he did wheeze sometimes. This had been going on for a year or two, so I finally decided to take him in. Really should have taken him to the vet sooner, but, ya know. Money is tight.