diff --git a/singer_sdk/streams/core.py b/singer_sdk/streams/core.py
index e460f9f81..d8696dab0 100644
--- a/singer_sdk/streams/core.py
+++ b/singer_sdk/streams/core.py
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ class Stream(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):  # noqa: PLR0904
     selected_by_default: bool = True
     """Whether this stream is selected by default in the catalog."""
 
+    __abstract__: bool = False
+    """Flag to indicate this stream is abstract and will not generate a catalog entry."""  # noqa: E501
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         tap: Tap,
@@ -321,6 +324,9 @@ def selected(self) -> bool:
         Returns:
             True if the stream is selected.
         """
+        if self.__abstract__:
+            return self.has_selected_descendents
+
         return self.mask.get((), True)
 
     @selected.setter
diff --git a/singer_sdk/tap_base.py b/singer_sdk/tap_base.py
index d25e0b279..49462acc0 100644
--- a/singer_sdk/tap_base.py
+++ b/singer_sdk/tap_base.py
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ def _singer_catalog(self) -> Catalog:
         return Catalog(
             (stream.tap_stream_id, stream._singer_catalog_entry)  # noqa: SLF001
             for stream in self.streams.values()
+            if not stream.__abstract__
         )
 
     def discover_streams(self) -> t.Sequence[Stream]: