Catch Block Error Variable Might Not Have Been Initialized

I want to use a try catch block, but I am not sure how to fix this problem:

int a;

try{
a = Integer.parseInt(A.getText());
}
catch (Exception e){
Output1.setText("Error");
}

//do someting with a here

The purpose of the try-catch is to catch blank input.The problem with this is that underneath the try - catch I get an error saying that the variable might not have been initialized. I know why this happens. I know I could initialize the varaible before the try - catch, but there is no default or null I can set an int as. If I initialized it as 0, the blank input will no longer be catched.how to make this problem disappear?