An oxide superconducting cable is provided having a plurality of strands comprised of at least one oxide superconductor filament sheathed in a ductile and conductive metal matrix and at least one of said strand further comprising a substantially continuous high resistivity coating substantially surrounding said at least one strand. The strands are positioned and arranged to form a cable. The cable is prepared by (a) applying a ductile predecessor coating to a plurality of strands, each said strand comprised of at least one oxide superconductor filament or a precursor thereto sheathed in a ductile metal matrix, and the ductile predecessor capable of conversion into a high resistivity material; (b) assembling the plurality of strands into a cable; and (c) converting the ductile predecessor into a high resistivity material, where steps (a) and (b) can be performed in any order.