The Awards Ceremony, which normally takes place on the second Sunday in June, is open to the general public, not just members of Scotland's theatre industry.
The critics as of 2025 are: Joyce McMillan (The Scotsman); Mark Brown (The Daily Telegraph, The National); Michael Cox (Across The Arts); Anna Burnside (Freelance Journalist); Mark Fisher (The Guardian); Natalie O'Donoghue (BroadwayWorld); Thom Dibdin (The Stage); Mary Brennan (The Herald); Dominic Corr (Corr Blimey!
); Allan Radcliffe (The Times); Fergus Morgan (The Stage); David Pollock (Freelance Journalist); Hugh Simpson (All Edinburgh Theatre).
Five additional categories were subsequently added: Best Director; Best Technical Presentation; Best Production for Children and Young People; Best Ensemble; and Best Music and Sound.
The "CATS Whiskers" are awarded – only occasionally – to individuals or organisations whom the judges believe have made a significant contribution to theatre in Scotland.
In 2003 the first ever CATS Whiskers award was presented as a 'special honour' to Giles Havergal, in recognition of the 34 years he spent as artistic director of the Citizen's Theatre.
In 2015 the CATS Whiskers award was awarded to Junction 25, celebrating their 10th anniversary of creating theatre that is made to reflect the thoughts, ideas and preoccupations of the 25 young people who form the company at any one time, yet is also shaped by directors Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore into beautiful, world-class performance, often featuring superb light, sound and movement.
Best Production for Children and Young People: Atlantis Banal: Beneath the Surface, created with Vélo Théâtre, France, produced by Catherine Wheels.
Best New Play: Douglas Maxwell 'The Sheriff of Kalamaki' (A Play, A Pie and A Pint) Best Production: 'Escaped Alone' (Tron Theatre) Outstanding Performance: Gill Robertson (Various) 'Lightning Ridge' (Catherine Wheels) Outstanding Performance: Paul McCole (Dion) 'The Sheriff of Kalamaki' (A Play, A Pie and A Pint) Best Ensemble: 'Escaped Alone' (Tron Theatre) Best Director: Joanna Bowman 'Escaped Alone' (Tron Theatre) Best Design: Anna Karenina (Royal Lyceum Theatre) Best Music and Sound: 'Ragnarok' (Tortoise in a Nutshell co-production with Figurteatret i Nordland and in association with MacRobert Arts Centre) Best Technical Presentation: 'Ragnarok' – Tortoise in a Nutshell co-production with Figurteatret i Nordland and in association with MacRobert Arts Centre Best Production for Children and Young People: 'Lightning Ridge' (Catherine Wheels)