In this paper a general analytical approach is proposed to analyse the nonlinear response of elastic cable under complex loads. The effect of temperature change on the cable is also considered. From the vertical equilibrium equations of cable, the general analytical formula of vertical displacement is derived. Based on the vertical displacement formula and on the compatibility condition of the cable, the dimensionless equation with respect to cable tension is established. By means of such analytical procedures, the exact solutions of various cable problems can be obtained quickly. The example given in this paper shows that the new procedure is efficient for practical analysis and can be easily implemented by a general computer program without the superposition problem which there has always been in traditional analytical methods.