We've decided to let Sam out for visits with the rest of us. The only thing we worry about is the possibility of Steve biting and pulling at the stitches, so the cats have to be completely supervised the entire time they're together. Pretty easy if Sam's hanging around with us on the couch, but a little more challenging if he's exploring.
The cats are normally so good at navigating our end tables without making a mess. Sam just knocked over my glass of water with his collar. My very full pint glass full of ice water, that thankfully didn't shatter or ruin any electronics.