I used SAGA for the evaluation of my LIDAR data and some easy processing.
Go to tool libraries
> Import/export
> LAS
. When you import the LAS data using Import LAS Files
you can select the import of existing classifications (this should be your categories). Unfortunately, my LIDAR data don't have categories so I can't try it myself.
You can select points using tool libraries
>Shapes
> Point Clouds
> Point Cloud Reclassifier / Subset Extractor
.
If you want to save this selection as LAS data, you need to export it as LAS file using Export LAS Files
(right click
> save as
saves the file automatically in the SAGA file format .spc).
Here, you'll find a tutorial about processing LIDAR data with SAGA.