Well the reason why they can do that is their C-Body or group of C-energy Units.  If an earthquake happens anywhere on the Planet Earth, the information on this initiated disturbance within the conglomeration of C-energy Units called Planet Earth travels via C-domain instantly. 

It takes several minutes for the earthquake shock wave to reach the surface of the Earth.  C-energy Units or C-Bodies of most of the animals pick up these signals right away and thus react to an impending disaster in the physical domain because they "know" about it before it happens. 

Animals are more in tune with nature and the whole planet Earth than we are.  They have no self ego as humans do which make humans less in touch with nature.  To be in touch with nature means to be in touch with the largest group of C-energy Units that make up our whole planet Earth. 

The larger the group of C-energy Units, the more power-energy this group has in C-domain and thus a signal sent by C-energy Units of the planet Earth is pretty powerful and anyone in tune with it can pick it up.  

Animals also communicate with each other much more with thought patterns or patterns produced by C-energy Units and their C-Bodies rather than just vocally.  They can sense all sides of P-Domain or what we refer to as "live" or "dead", since all matter has C-energy Units behind them. 

Also, animals pick up our thoughts and C-energy Units especially our house pets like dogs and cats.  They truly understand us much more than we think they do.